ZenView
Mary Layton
Step into Serenity
What is serenity? The Oxford Dictionary offers this definition: “The state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled, ‘an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city’.” The goal of meditation is to reach a state of serenity that is when your mind is still and calm.
Most of us are not comfortable with that feeling. Our culture discourages us being still. The number of things I get can get done too often becomes a measurement of my self esteem for that day. Occupation becomes a compulsion and a tool against my inner monologue, keeping me safe from my own negativity. However if I lose my cool, make mistakes, end up cranky, tired and tense I know it’s time for some serenity. I know there is a more serene and peaceful approach to all my activities which would make my life a lot better.
But how to switch gears? How does one step into serenity? It starts with a willingness to seek an activity that helps slow down the runaway train of your mind. Put problems and emotions aside. Trust that this would work. Let go off expectations and anxieties, release bias, prejudice, and expectation. Because I practice T’ai Chi, what works for me is to do a simple movement over and over. After doing it for a few minutes I find myself becoming more tranquil. My breathing sinks deeper into my body. I become interested in the tiny sensations, the flowing of blood and oxygen, the tingling in my fingers. I reconnect with my anatomy, my living apparatus. I may notice some thoughts but I can ignore them if I chose too. And it is in doing this that I regain a sense of power and focus. I realize I am the captain of my reality. It’s really all up to me, in my mind I can stand for peace and possibility. Focusing just on one single thing is the ticket. Forgetting the past and the future, being only in the moment. Keeping out all distractions. This focus is giving me a deep sense of belonging, reconnecting to my inner self and feeling part of my environment. It’s a mental practice, the one repeating motion becomes my meditation.
Whatever you love and devote yourself to, whether taking a walk in nature, playing music, making art, cooking, sewing or gardening, these can all be stepping stones into serenity.
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