Get to know yourself

Get to know yourself

Quiet. Silence. Thoughtful reflection. Are these foreign words to you? Truth is, most of us feel bored and restless when we get the opportunity to sit in the quiet and do nothing but listen to our thoughts. Why do we feel we need the TV on for background noise, for example, even when we're not watching? It's as though we want to be distracted from our own minds! In a recent interview in Psychology Today, the Dalai Lama talks about meditation and how it brings us a closer connection with our inner selves. In silence, we are faced with thoughts and preoccupations we may not have noticed if we had filled the background with noise. A mind at rest allows thoughts to flow in and out, and brings issues to the surface where they can no longer be ignored.

Meditation certainly doesn't have to be the traditional sitting on a floor mat, eyes closed and arms raised to the heavens. It can be as simple as relaxing in the backyard or a park, going for a walk alone, or just lying in bed that extra half-hour on the weekend, doing nothing. The important thing is that you are not distracted by your environment, and can actually focus on relaxing and clearing your mind so you can listen to that little voice inside. This may sound hokey to some of you, but it can truly help you get in touch with yourself. You spend hours listening to other people, TV and radio personalities, so why not give yourself a little of that attention?

by T.L. Scribe