My theme this week is Internal Change. You are probably familiar with the saying "don't sweat the small stuff." Overall, that's pretty good advice. Sometimes, however, the small stuff is not so small, and we really must address (or "sweat") it, in order to get rid of it and make room for the blessings.
One way to get rid of that small stuff is to add prayer and meditation to your day. This suggestion is not just for religious people, but for spiritual people, as well. It has been said that prayer is simply us talking to God, while meditation is listening to God in the silence.
It is difficult to silence our minds, especially in the early states of meditation (and sometimes even in the later stages), so don't try to stop the thoughts that come up. Just let them pass through your mind. Imagine yourself waiting for traffic to slow down so that you can cross the road. Eventually, there will be a break in the traffic and you will be able to cross. There is an old saying that goes something like this: Trying to control the thoughts in your mind during meditation is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. Two things are accomplished: first, you get dirty; and second, the pig likes it.
I encourage you to start your day with 10 minutes spent in prayer and silence. A carpenter would not start a job without his tools, so why would you start your day without yours? In the silence, we connect to our innermost Self; our heart. The prophets and great teachers have told us that the heart is the place where we can find our true nature.
I am very interested in hearing about the internal changes you have made (or plan to make) in 2009. Please click on the comment link below and share your thoughts.
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