Day 211 – What if we could find ourselves spending less and less energy worrying about what others are thinking? Today’s reading addresses how our practice evolves and matures and helps us realize “that strong emotional responses merely cloud the mind and exhaust the body.”
An Eckhart Tolle quote opens up this reading: “The more you are idenifitied with your thinking, your likes and dislikes, judgments and interpretations, which is to say the less present you are as the watching conciousness, the stronger the emotional energy charge will be, whether you are aware of it or not.” This speaks to me on so many levels. On one hand, I have passion for many people and ideas/things–not as in desire, but as in LOVE (for example, teaching yoga or learning history or reading or my family, etc.). It is not emotionally difficult when I am in the flow, but I can feel it physically.
Anger, on the other hand, reared its head a few days ago–and, like this quote, I felt this intense emotional
response and physical drain after a short outburst. I was able to slow down and watch what triggered it and see what it stemmed from, and I totally recognize the habitual thought patterns that created and sustained the episode, so that I now can change it. What was interesting was it wasn’t out of hunger, inflammation, or reasonable discontent, although much of this type of response previously was directly related to hormonal, physiological, and neurological pathways.
response and physical drain after a short outburst. I was able to slow down and watch what triggered it and see what it stemmed from, and I totally recognize the habitual thought patterns that created and sustained the episode, so that I now can change it. What was interesting was it wasn’t out of hunger, inflammation, or reasonable discontent, although much of this type of response previously was directly related to hormonal, physiological, and neurological pathways. This reading, to me, is about uncovering those things within that cause us to be reactionary, and continued practice and reflection are essential in order to change the unhealthy thought patterns. My house is not in order just because I feel better physically. I am beginning to see why meditation is so important, also, and plan to incorporate this into my morning and evening routine, if only for 5-10 minutes. Just as my gut needs a rest, the mind also needs a rest, so when present it can do what it does best–LOVE.
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