Have you ever tried to sit in one position (on the floor) for an hour, not moving, bolt upright on a couple of pillows? Believe me when I tell you from my perspective I never expected it to be so hard but it was…
Day 5 I really started to understand the effort it was going to take for me to endure the sensations running through my body as I tried to maintain my position whilst going through the process of the Vipassana meditation. My only reference about this, prior to attending, was someone’s description that their body was screaming at them and their mind wanted them to listen and move. However I believe that like any physical exercise, when you initially start there is always a pain barrier to get past.
I love Bikram yoga but I felt I endured much pain (and some suffering) during those early years of my body coming to terms with the physicality of this practice but the great thing was my mind readily expressing it to me during this 10 day course. A reminder of the fact that I started barely able to touch my toes, days after still feeling the lactic acid throughout my body and aches in places I didn’t know I had muscles. The timely reminder of these images in my head gave me an opportunity to reflect and remember what I have been able to achieve and could again do if I chose to draw on that strength.
Anyone that has seen and/or listened to Colin O’Brady’s TEDx would have to agree that our ability to change our mindset does literally mean you can change your reality and achieve anything. I mean I wasn’t even close to having to endure what he went through so I could surely overcome the sensations I was feeling sitting still for an hour… Like any good inspirational tale though the implementation isn’t easy, the theory is sometimes already known to us but what is fundamentally missing is the belief.
Although I’ve been on this self development journey for a while (as long as I can remember really but more seriously the last 5 years), I was pleased to have had some foundational grounding in this concept through Advanced Business Abilities less than 6 months prior to my attending the Vipassana course. Because it was through the Leadership and Communication Skills Accelerator (LCSA) that I saw the true potential for transformational change during experiential learning. Through Mike’s training I integrated the theory of how our minds can get in the way of our ability to communicate with others and building on what Mike had started to teach me about ‘Emotional Charge’ I was then able to put that into perspective and not only appreciate the concept but I was again experiencing how my mind was the root of my own suffering.
Which all sounds very depressing doesn’t it?
Well actually I hope not… The intention here is to focus on what we can achieve with our mind. It’s about realising that we all do have suffering, in some way, shape or form and it’s not a matter of comparison because we’re all on our own journey’s. In fact that’s what makes us all just $5 in a jar; all the same bunch of atoms but with unique expressions like the nuances of our genes, from my perspective. I in fact love to learn more and more about our human condition, our mind, our bodies, our existence on this earth, in this universe and possibly beyond. The more and more I delve, the more it feels like we’re scratching at the surface and there’s just so much potential for our future with human kind being just that – KIND to one another, KIND to ourselves.
Or another way I like to put it:
K – kindred spirits
I – intelligent beings
N – nature and nurture
D – developing
As kindred spirits we have the choice to hold the same belief’s, attitudes and feelings of a positive future that we can each impact. The intelligent beings we are have produced and continue to produce such advances to not only technology but spirituality and understanding of our human condition that can, if we choose, will further human kind. It’s through nature and our ability to nurture the mind, the body, this earth that we will produce a legacy of paying it forward and endures throughout time. Because ongoing development of myself and a passion to educate others; not standing still (although again is a choice we all have) is of no appeal to me… How about YOU?
What’s your next adventure… Heaven on Earth or Misery to Happiness
I’d love it if you share your thoughts – you can add them below or engage me direct susie@mssusanne.com.au
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It's the Journey not the Destination 