Meditation
Thoughts wander—that’s OK.
Can you find a way to appreciate
the subtle stillness of the present?
Tempted to drift
off like a dream,
but you stick around instead.
Persist to discover
what more there is
in this deep, relaxing state.
Where we would usually drift off to sleep,
instead, we stay awake
to soak it all in,
deeply engaged
in this deep, relaxing state.
Like a weighted blanket of calm,
you could easily fade to sleep,
but you choose to stay awake
because it’s more interesting that way:
to observe your thoughts,
to see what happens next,
in this deep, relaxing state
of resting while awake.
The Directing Mind
Remember the part of you that dictates and directs;
continually keep it in the forefront of your mind:
This is you,
your true self.
It’s from this centre that you must act
and practice.
Pause
before every action—even when it seems
insignificant, at most.
Reflect
on this part of you so you can act
in accordance with this inner self.
Each time you do,
you further ingrain the truth:
This is you,
your true self,
your directing mind.
The more you pause and reflect
on the power you possess
to direct the feelings that arise,
the less you’re swayed,
the less you feel obliged
to fulfill every impulse and desire.
The more you feel empowered
to just nod and smile
and respond—not how you feel,
but how you ultimately desire.
You’re the master of this body,
the supreme authority of this mind;
it’s you who commands
your wants and desires.
True freedom awaits whenever you choose
to own this part of you
—to choose as you want to,
not based on feelings or sensory desire
but on listening to the quiet promptings
of your directing mind;
and to choose what you know
will ultimately satisfy.
How We Love Ourselves
This is how we love ourselves:
Ruthless action.
Fearless, continual, persistent movement
towards the best possible outcome.
Love isn’t blind. It’s fearless.
And it’s only real when it’s first applied to ourselves.
Fearless pursuit towards our goals,
despite all odds.
Conscious focus on success alone
—there is no other option.
And it isn’t just the focus,
but the persistent pursuit.
The movement forward,
despite fear and doubt.
This is what we live for:
These big little moments.
These quiet moments of triumph,
hidden from the rest of the world.
The battles that we fight
that only we know we face:
The quiet conquering of our minds.
Love, it flows outward, not inward.
When we love ourselves first,
we can’t hold onto it anymore.
We’re driven to share out of a necessity of sorts.
That’s the nature of love:
It spreads.
It’s too much to handle on our own.
We share it with others
so we don’t have to experience it alone.
That’s how we love:
First, loving ourselves.
Because only then can we know
the full depth of compassion,
the patience and understanding
it takes to love
a human being.
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image: Pixabay
