Remembering What Matters When You’re Lost
Dora found me through browsing the internet for meditation teachings. She asked to have a chat because she wanted to tell me her story.
I was struck by the energetic lady who showed up on my screen for our scheduled call on Thursday afternoon. Her voice tells a story of moving with the waves. She enjoys travelling, her artwork, a beautifully supportive family and changing things around the house.
But an accident a few years ago cut through the narrative of her life leaving her with a persistent fear of death that disrupts her of her joyfulness. After couple of years being treated by a psychiatrist whose medication ate away at her sleep, she decided to look for a different route to reconstructing her life.
It’s difficult to admit, but not all of us have Dora’s stubborn determination to revive her joyfulness and fullness.
We either believe the doctor’s admonition that there’s no other way, taking upon ourselves the blame for not keeping up with their instructions. Or we’re squandering energy in the attempt to contain our pain until it becomes all we can do to keep on with the way things are. Often we just soldier on with everyday tasks while labelling our concerns and pain as “not too bad”.
If we remember what matters the most in the most important moments we are less likely to be hijacked by a fight/flight system that has a very limited conversation with life.
One of the less spoken of meanings and functions of mindfulness is remembering.
“Our bodies are texts that carry memories” said Katie Cannon “and therefore remembering is no less than reincarnation”.
Remembering while deep in a fog of forgetfulness is quite a challenge. Perhaps the great challenge of our life.
If you remembered your beauty at all times you would never suffer from self-doubt, self-criticism and the feeling that you’re not enough.
A memory of awareness nestles quietly in our body waiting to remind us of a greater self, of a fluent selfhood that has the power to reincarnate the too narrow experiences we can get trapped in.
Just last week Dora told me she learned that a good friend of the family had died in difficult circumstances. This would stir up anyone.
Though Dora experienced a panic attack she remembered to pause, bring her attention to the sensations in her feet and summon the sense of grounding and solidity that came on the wings of awareness.
After only few weeks of working with Dora on different meditation techniques, her mind and body were already available to say yes to remembering what matters at the most important time.
Some people practice meditation to have a pleasant feeling, to cruise away in dream-like state that after a while bursts like a bubble in rosewater bath. I practice meditation to be able to be awake so when I get dragged down by heaviness or other forms of self-mutilation I can be alive to my sources of joy and free to respond in a way that reconstructs a genuine sense of rest.
You’ll find all of this and more in my Foundation to Meditation course, starting March 4th.
You’d be surprised how much you can achieve in only 6 weeks.
I’ll be there by your side to kick you in the ass when you fall into habitual numbness or give you a soft fluffy blanket when you’re striving too much.
I’ll be there by your side to remember with you that being fully alive is a gift that’s given freely at any single moment with each and every breath.
I’m thrilled to have you join us
Registration is now open
Signing up by February 18th the fees are 290CHF AND there’s a bonus of free access to an online retreat.
There’s a special fee for returning students.
Learn more about the course and everything that is included and save your spot here
Shelly Sharon is helping those who know their gifts and strength lie in their life story and wounds, yet after all their efforts they don't seem to live that reality to the full and want to learn how to deepen their self-trust, expression and presence in there world.
Learn more about Life Alignment
Photo by Jay Skyler on Unsplash
