We all have those thoughts running through our heads.  The ones writing and following the script derived from the messages and experiences of our life so far.  We may feel powerless to change that script to what we would want it to be.  We may not feel worthy of having the life we would want if we had a chance to get our heads above water.  Maybe our families are writing that script for us.  Maybe teachers, bosses, peers, bullies, the media, are all telling us we are not measuring up to what they think we should be.  As we go about our day, it seems like everyone has read that script and treats us accordingly.  When we are in the thick of it like this, it definitely feels like life is happening to us and the only relief we may get is to vent in an endless string of complaints.  Truth be told, the more we dump our overwhelming burdens on others, continued permission is given to the world to treat us accordingly.  Thus the cycle continues…

How does this make us feel on a spiritual level?  Probably exhausted and like we don’t want to be here anymore.  We may feel numb and fed up with the struggle.  We may have tried to cope by choosing distractions or self-medicating behavior.  These may seem to help for a while, but eventually we come to a point where we have to make a change.  Most likely our Higher Self, Guardian Angels and Guides have been trying to get in touch with us and wake us up.  They may have been giving us signs, dreams and synchronicities.  Spirit is with us all the time.  Our Higher Selves are giving us guidance.  Whispering that there is so much more to life than what we have been experiencing.  Coaxing us to be better humans.  To drop our distractions and open our minds and our hearts.

Less is more.  I don’t have to describe all the ways we are bombarded with stimulus.  When we engage with our busy demanding world, our minds working overtime to process everything, we may become disconnected with who is really inside us, and if we are going to go “off-script,” we gotta get in touch with our inside.  The first step is to have the courage to become mindful and in the present moment.  Disengage and take a step back and observe our life as it happens.  Give ourselves permission to not react as we normally do.  Just suspend our normal judgment and reactions.  Gradually, we may find out that the script may not really exist, but it was our belief in that script that created our reality.  If we can put that script in the can, we can live in the moment and then we can begin to create a new reality.  If there is no script, we can forgive and accept ourselves, and move forward.

Mindfulness is the art of being fully present in the moment, whatever we are doing.  Connected with our center, grounded and mindful of the moment.  Quieting the jagged energy to a comfortable curvy flow, and being our authentic self.

Meditation helps improve mindfulness.  My friend, Erik Medhus, in his Mom’s blog, describes meditation as “rising above your awakened state.”  You just rise above it.  It means taking a time-out of life to clear out our minds and enter “the place between thoughts” as Dr. Wayne describes in his blogpost, 4 Powerful Habits to Clear Your Mind During Meditation.  It means entering something he calls “the void.”  It’s a way to stay clear and allow our consciousness to fully engage in the experience of our existence.  If getting quiet is difficult, a sitting meditation is not the only way to work on mindfulness, an alternative is moving meditation such as mindful walking.

Here is a beautiful I AM meditation with Dr. Wayne.

This is a powerful and life-changing video with speaker Vishen Lakhiani.