You might be surprised at what you find; you might even find yourself.
Isolation (noun): the process or fact of being alone; without relation to other people or things.
It happens to many throughout the years. It is usually represented with the physical parting of ways from society, but I would like to look at it in a deeper context; internal isolation of oneself. Hiding of one’s soul from the daily emotions, thoughts, and feelings of what has to be processed and comprehended.
When oneself isolates, nothing has to be done, nothing has to be processed or understood; it can merely exist in the confusion of your mind.
The question is, can you sit with that confusion, the restlessness the unknown?
As we venture into what may be the 3rd or 4th week of isolation now (maybe more for others under different constraints to their freedom of everyday life), we adjust. Some better than others.
I recently met with a friend who cleaned her entire house and rearranged the closets and cupboards, took up cooking her way through 2 cookbooks, and started a new art project. All in the first few weeks of the lockdown.
By the third week, when we met up for a walk, she was telling me how the stress was getting to her of being in lockdown. She confessed that she was getting bored and wanted to do more. Do more than what I wondered?
She seemed to go through lists and lists of to-do projects quite quickly. Maybe she could come over and clean my house, I wondered.
But then she brought up meditation and asked me about it. Being a spiritual medium and healer, I often teach and lead mediation sessions, so I welcomed her venture into the mindful practice.
“Meditation clears the mind I explained, but can you clear it ?” I asked her. “Can you sit in the nothingness and allow things on your to-do list, come and let go?”
There are so many types of meditation in the world. Breathwork meditation, silent meditation, guided meditations, mindfulness mediation, movement meditations, meditations with the mantra. The list goes on. Which one is best for you depends on the individual and what resonates with you.
I typically do guided mediation for beginners. So, what is a guided meditation? In a guided mediation, a teacher guides you through the necessary steps of whatever meditation technique they are practicing. It usually involves getting the person to follow your voice and focus on whatever instructions or visualizations you are asking them to do.
I have also done unguided meditations. This takes more discipline, which means you have to be willing to guide your own mind chatter to quiet down. You might listen to music or sit in silence but is usually done for a set period where you are in control of where you direct your mind to go or not go.
Meditation, in general tries, to bring concentration and tranquillity to mind by focusing on an item, your breath, a flame, a prayer, or something where you can exclude all other thought and distraction from consciousness.
But mediation is a chance to align the mind, body, and soul, no matter the type or style. It is a chance for you to take control of you vs. allowing your environment or thoughts to control you.
It is a type of discipline upon yourself to take control of your thoughts and guide yourself to the desired state within. But be willing to feel what arises within you when feelings and thoughts. Become the observer. Detach, and let go. You cannot control anything except yourself in this world, so the question is, can you control your thoughts in a 5, 10, 1-hour long mediation? If you can control yourself during this practice, then you will be able to develop this muscle and sense of control over your mind, body, and soul alignment even out of a mediative state.
So during this time, as things become worrisome or stressful, I urge you to try meditation to find that balance and groundedness within yourself. Go outside and take a deep breath, even for 5 min. Let the world and whatever is worrying you melt away in that 5 min. Take the 5 min back for yourself. This is your time, And during this time, I urge you to observe what comes up for you. The thoughts and feelings — see all of them as if you were watching someone else. Then, release them.
You might be surprised at what you find; you might even find yourself.
