#128 Check-in regularly

     Are you aware of your state of mind, moment-to-moment? Is your mind tense or relaxed?

     If your mind is tense, you can't be mindful. Your mind is locked-in - like a missile - on something. What? It's important to investigate the source of tension. Often it's craving - striving to obtain or achieve something, with the underlying idea that doing so will bring about happiness. Tension can equally be brought on by aversion to something (eg pain) or someone (eg someone who insulted you), again based on the idea that avoiding, retaliating, or somehow getting rid of the object of your aversion will bring about happiness.

     At some level we all realize that our own attitude is the only thing we can control. Can we then learn to give up on the unreasonable hope that others and the environment will start behaving to best suit us? Can we see that events occur because of innumerable causes & conditions, and that our own input usually has minimal influence?
     Say for example you take a cab and the driver is in a miserable mood and treats you badly. Many of us would take that personally, however, his mood has little if anything at all to do with you.
     How does it feel if you start taking NOTHING personally? Doesn't EVERYTHING occur naturally, due to countless causes & conditions converging at one particular place & time?

     Check-in regularly to see if your mind feels tense or relaxed. See how it feels letting go of tension-producing craving & aversion. See if you take things personally - how does it feel? Do less of what doesn't work and more of what does - see where it leads!

     You might revisit blog #74 Attitude:
http://mindfulnessforeveryone.blogspot.ca/2012/03/74-attitude.html

 

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