A part of our psyche is naturally deeply invested in the survival of this human body. It could be called ‘Small-self’, ‘Ego’, or perhaps our ‘scared parts’.
Since before you were born, your sub-conscious has been recording all of the details of everything you have ever experienced. And more importantly, it’s been keeping track of the meaning you’ve made from all these experiences.
In order to feel like you know how to survive your body tries to reach for a sense of certainty, and in an uncertain world your recording of the past is the closest thing to certainty that you could possibly hold on to.
The problem is that to your Small-self, this recording (and the meaning you made) is understood as TRUTH because after all, these things actually did happen.
Your Ego only has this recording to rely on which is why it will dwell there, and with its feet firmly planted in the “truth” of the past it looks into the future and predicts more of the same.
Is it any wonder that we struggle being present? And even when we place our attention on this present moment, how do we meet it exactly as it is, without placing the expectations of our “recording” on it?
“What do sad people have in common? It seems they have all built a shrine to the past and often go there and do a strange wail and worship. What is the beginning of happiness? It is to stop being so religious about the past.” – Hafez
“Now that all your worry about the future has proved such an un-lucrative business. Why not find a better job? Be more present.” – Hafez
“This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you. Our beloved has bowed there knowing you were coming.” – Hafez
You could go to war with the scared parts of you for always being stuck in the past or future, or you can remember that this is not the complete story of who you are. There is another part of you, the part of you that existed long before this body was born and will still BE long after.
Your Soul knows the truth about your “recording”… that these are just the things that happened, and the meaning that your young self made was not always accurate.
When we learn to see through the eyes of our Soul, then “being present” becomes our natural state.
We all have a recording of the past from which our subconscious gets its information, but you don’t have to be trapped by your recording, you can learn how to step out of the recording and see it in context.
Today’s meditation journey builds the foundation for us to take a step backwards and out of what we’re experiencing, so that we can look at the experience and practice seeing it for what it is without the “story” that our recording tells us.
It’s a simple exercise that you can learn to do anywhere, anytime in just a few minutes and free yourself from being controlled by your own old programming.
A few mantras to reflect on as you step out of your recording:
- “The past is a story, not a prison.”
- “My soul knows the truth, and it is not defined by my past experiences.”
- “I am more than my history. I am a being of infinite potential.”
- “Today, I choose to be present and let go of the past.”
The key to living a more present and fulfilling life is to recognize that our past experiences are simply a collection of events and emotions, not a definitive truth. We can learn to step back from our stories and view them with a fresh perspective.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Come to your senses.