Like Momma says, “Slow down and live..” Many parents teach their children to look around. They teach appreciation of our own experience. Just be quiet and appreciate what you see, hear, feel and the people you are with. Still, every day you and I meet people who say, “I am too busy and never have time to relax. I am exhausted.”
So how can we take charge of “chronic hurry.” One important cure for hurry is Meditation. Meditation is free. You don’t have to buy anything. It has no adverse side effects. “Deep relaxation” has a host of positive medical benefits. Much of the research has been done by The Mindfulness Community.
Well, spending time just being aware of what we are experiencing is also good for the soul. And this “down time” is critical to cleaning up the mental clutter of life. As we allow or brains to clean up we also learn from our experience. When we choose to take time to just be aware we choose to accept the gift of practical wisdom promised in James 1:5,
Mindfulness or Appreciation of our Own Experience
The people who study who the human mind operates teach us that our brains have two primary ways of functioning, attentive or mindful and active. Both are forms of intelligence. Appreciation our own experience begins with accessing attentive or mindful thought. We become aware of what we are seeing and feeling without comment. Attentive intelligence is both the gateway to much of human joy and to our own soul.
When we stop directing our brains to analyze this or solve that problem, our brains can appreciate the world as we experience it. We can open our self to the richness of our experience. Attentive intelligence also allows us to clean up the “mental trash” we generate through directed thought.
Preparing to Meditate
Preparing to meditate is the art of disengaging from active intelligence so we can appreciate our experience. We grow in wisdom and joy. Millions of people use these techniques and have for literally thousands of years. Here are four ways to access attentive intelligence that you can practice: Three Things to Open the Door, Time and Place, Posture and Tension, and Breathing. I hope you find these suggestions both helpful and challenging.