Personal Meditation No. 4

“It’s not all in your mind but if you don’t control your mind, then the rest doesn’t matter.”

Embrace the Within

On Friday I went with my oldest son’s eighth grade class to a high-ropes course. Now, I have always held a respect for heights from my youth, however, over the past five years, my respect became irrational fear. The simple act of driving across the two bridges down here in southern Maryland force me to focus and white-knuckle across. So, a high-ropes course is not a preferred activity.

But, I was needed as a chaperone to keep the numbers right for completing the courses. No more than walking up the stairs to the first course did I realize that I made a mistake in thinking this was going to be easy. I wasn’t even on a rope, I wasn’t even on at the highest point, I was still standing on wooden steps with wooden railings and I knew . . . This wasn’t me.

Despite rationally understanding that I couldn’t fall. Despite knowing that I was safe the entire time. I was in a place of irrational belief. I held on to whatever I could grasp. I hyper-focused on each individual obstacle. I completed one task and went to the other knowing that I would eventually reach the zipline and the ground again.

I didn’t just do this for one course. I did this three times. Did it get easier? . . . No. Did I still keep climbing up? . . . Yes.

Sometimes in life we’re afraid of things that, unlike a high-ropes course, are necessary for us to change and, like a high-ropes course, are not going to kill us. But we’re irrationally afraid of making that change. We know that making the choice to be healthy is important but we’re scared of leaving the comfort of our rut. We’ve conditioned ourselves to not be in charge of our own minds, our own bodies, our own lives.

Masks are optional now in Maryland. I took my oldest out driving last night and hit a few places to see that even though people could take off their masks without being hassled . . . They weren’t. Even in the Lowes Garden Department which is outside . . . People were still pushing their carts and wearing their masks. Change. A year ago these people were told masks weren’t needed and now when they are told they can take off those same masks . . . Nothing.

We all have to make our own choices in life. And a lot of the time our brains are not very helpful in that process. Our lizard brain wants to live it’s basic life. Our lizard brain wants to be part of the crowd. Our lizard brain wants to be comfortable. But is our comfort just another type of bondage? Is our comfort enslaving us?

Is it all in your mind? Is your mind yours? Or is your mind being influenced to work against you? I hope you find whatever you’re looking for. Have the day you want.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyBodyMyChoice #MakeYourselfGreatAgain