A Powerful Meditative Practice for the Holidays

It's another Meditation Monday. Because I am taking this week off to celebrate the holidays fully with my family, I wanted to offer a centering practice that is perfect for this time of year—one you may want to call upon again and again as the pace picks up this week and next.

I call it: Focusing on the “Other”

Consider this. When we are feeling the most stressed, anxious, or fearful we may be focused solely on ourselves. Thoughts swirl and emotions arise luring us into self-preoccupation. Which leads to more worry about what might happen, how bad it could feel, or how awful everything may turn out. Our inner peace is nowhere to be found.

This is discursive thinking, an endless mind loop of self-indulgent, 'What about me?' thoughts. 'I, I, I …' thoughts prevail and we just can’t seem to make the chatter stop.

Being able to catch ourselves in the midst of this is key to maintaining inner peace. We can learn to pause, observe, and name what is happening to us. In my own life, because I create magazine columns, books, and blogs, I get caught up in what I have come to call “Writing Mind.” This is my unique mind chatter pattern, one that can easily pull me into feelings of anxiousness or overwhelm because there is always so much to do! With intention and practice, I am learning to name this pattern when it begins, then turn my attention in another direction to make discursive thinking stop.

How about you? What might your mind-looping pattern be? Is it worry? Fear? Reworking old conversations? Rehearsing new ones? It really does not matter what the pattern is, the point is to recognize it, name it, and transform it.

Redirecting the Loop

We begin by redirecting our thoughts, focusing our attention on something else—actually someone else. We can get outside of ourselves by thinking about another person. Putting our attention on “the other” works wonders by creating new feelings of ease, gratitude, and love.

Sit quietly for this short meditation. Breathe deeply and easily and bring to mind someone you love. Imagine them in your mind’s eye, happily going about their day. What do you see them doing? What do you desire for them? What good thoughts, prayers, or acts of blessing can you send their way? Spend some time with this dear one, holding them in heart and thought.

Now, notice how much better you feel; more centered and calm you are just thinking about your dear one. By shifting your attention from 'What about me?' to 'What about them?' you have raised your energetic “vibration” from self-absorption to other-care; from preoccupation to compassion.

This is an act of re-aligning ourselves with the highest virtues of Spirit—love and compassion—by focusing on the well-being of another, instead of worrying about our own. It is a process that evens out our mental terrain—from wild to meandering to ambling. In no time, we have enhanced our own well-being!

Choose inner peace by choosing to focus on “other love.” Truly, inner peace may be just one loving thought away.

Now, does your heart have anything to say?  

As always, I am eager to hear ... 

This holiday season I am sending you and yours many blessings—Peace, Love, Abundant Joy! No matter what tradition you hail from, no matter how you celebrate this season, may happiness be yours.

All Love,

Jan

(Images courtesy of cpfpei.pe.ca; shiyam06.ipower.com; and treehugger.com)

Did you enjoy this meditation? Each month I share a "Pocket of Peace" with readers at Michigan Women's Forum. This online magazine for women, founded by my friend Joni Hubred-Golden, is full of news, inspiration, and stories of women changing the world—one small (and sometimes big!) step at a time. Each Pocket of Peace I've created has been archived there, so enjoy!

ANNOUNCING! I've also just posted my Winter schedule. Please visit my website to learn more about January events in Michigan, and February thru April events in Florida! Click here to read more. Yep, this winter I am bilocating, from snow banks to seashore!