The following excerpt of powerful and deeply meaningful words were shared with the Weekly Meditation Group this week and very relevant to mindfulness practice. To be in a true state of acceptance we let go of resistance to what is. It is futile to deny events, feelings, people or anything that is part of our experience.
An excerpt from ‘The Happiness Trap” by Dr Russ Harris
Life is made up of all kinds of weather - acceptance allows peace.
“Acceptance does not mean ‘putting up with’ or resigning yourself to anything. Acceptance is about embracing life, not merely tolerating it. Acceptance literally means ‘taking what is offered’. It doesn’t mean giving up or admitting defeat; it doesn’t mean just gritting your teeth and bearing it. It means fully opening yourself to your present reality – acknowledging how it is, right here and now and letting go of the struggle with life as it is in this moment”
Practicing mindfulness allows us to observe our lives fully and we can notice (as Dr Harris puts it) there is a “Thinker” and an “Observer” within us. Through becoming aware of the observer and witnessing the thinker, and our lives as they unfold in each moment there is a greater possibility of change taking place although not necessarily.
If we undertake the objective of discovering the observer because we “have to change” then we are still not in a state of acceptance – we are in a place of resistance to what is. The thinker is as much a part of us as the observer and trying to stop the thinker is a waste of time if not practically impossible.
There are many methods of becoming aware of the observer – some simple and some complex. A daily mindfulness practice in the form of a sitting meditation is the simplest way to get started. This can expand your awareness in profound ways giving you deep understanding and insights into your life enabling you let go of futile resistance and to truly embrace life as it is. A sitting meditation is about taking time to sit and place awareness on the breath and then noticing breathing, body sensations, thoughts as they appear, images that flash into our inner vision and so on. Just allowing them to be and not being attached to their presence.
I personally practice a sitting meditation at least twice each day – morning and usually evening. When I do it’s just a matter of accepting the meditation as it is in each moment – it can be a vastly different experience each time and all I need do is just notice it. Throughout my day, my mindfulness of life unfolding, is expanding and with it my acceptance of life as it is.
Although life is filled with all kinds of weather it IS truly amazing!
