Together or Alone?

March 4, 2004 (revised from  September 9, 2022)

Imagine being alone in a room, watching an awful "breaking news" story. The worry and pain and that sobering feeling are overwhelming. If you knew that there was a way to silence your mind and reach out to others who may also be alone and watching this unfold, wouldn't you want to? To know that you're not experiencing this alone?

 It can be like tossing out a lifeline, or a tin can with a string on it, when you sit in a room with others who are struggling in life, like you are. It doesn't even have to be the same struggle, it just needs to be something that they need a break from thinking about, obsessing over. Just being near others who “get it” …..the collective vibe raises.  I notice a rise in my mood immediately, almost to the point of being giddy. 

I really have to work harder some days to stay focused on the intentions that I set for that day, really focus on keeping my vibe elevated. It's soo easy to fall back into patterns because that's how we've unwittingly trained ourselves. 

 

I never, EVER thought I would be doing something like this. My social anxiety is off the charts (I was bullied quite a bit as a kid and rejected quite a bit as an adult) and to think of myself being the one of having a room full of people listening to me and paying attention... meditation shifts everything, it just changes the energy in the room. 

 

I needed the shift, the change, for several reasons; I know full well that everyone has some reason that they would love to just silence the noise that's in their minds. Everyone. I never thought I would be able to do that, my anxieties have just been too many. And the world around us certainly contributes- we are in worrisome times.

 As trite as it sounds, if I can reach a level of stillness and silence with all the things I carry daily, anyone who truly wants that calm for themselves can do the same. 

 

To anyone who doesn't know what it means to meditate, or to someone who questions whether they're doing it right, or they think that it sounds like it's too good to be true, or they think that it sounds more involved than it really is .... these are all normal questions and the one sure-fire way to answer them is guided meditation. 

There are many, many apps and websites that provide guided meditations. I've used some myself. But, when I first started on this path, I didn't find them useful because they all seemingly assumed that I knew what I was doing. 

Even some of them that explained it, didn't do it thoroughly enough, it just made me feel like I was missing some big revelation with it. I honestly didn't feel that this person who was "guiding" me was relatable. 

My concern is the disconnect; that using an app just won't make you feel like you're getting enough out of it.  It's important to seek a knowledgeable coach who can help you understand what you're doing and how it can help you. IT WILL HELP YOU, I promise. 

 

 Here I am, tin can in hand and abundant love in my heart. 

Namaste