I have no deep thoughts this morning, as I sit inside my house at my kitchen table, hiding from the oppressive humidity and heat outside.
I’m happy.
Which, seems like a weird thing to say when there is so much wrong with the world. So many things that are just plain horrible going on. A world pandemic, economies crashing, all the strife and divide in the world.
But I am.
I don’t know if it’s age - and it certainly isn’t circumstances, but I feel a satisfaction in the small things that occupy my days of late.
Having my wife home for the summer break.
Breakfast.
A sleeping cat.
Watching my plants grow.
Focusing on nothing and appreciating every small thing.
I didn’t seek a zen frame of mind this morning, and I don’t know exactly how I fumbled Into this feeling of quiet peace but I intend to stay in it as long as possible today. I'm certainly not siting here in any sort of zen pose or in a meditative state... so I did a little reading.
As Ilene Strauss Cohen Ph.D. states in her article: Zen Mindset - Acquiring the mindset of a master over on Psychology Today Canada; the following 5 things can help you gain/keep a zen mindset:
1. Be Mindful. Mindfulness is the ability to focus and train your mind to become aware of awareness itself so that you can pay attention to your own purpose and meaning. As researchers have defined it, mindfulness requires paying attention to the present moment from a stance that is nonjudgmental and nonreactive. Mindfulness informs us about being an observer of ourselves, watching our actions and feelings as they’re occurring. As Daniel J. Siegal, M.D. puts it, "At the heart of this process, is a form of internal "tuning in" to oneself that enables people to become "their own best friend."
2. Become an Objective Observer. There is a part of all of us that is an objective observer. That part of us is open and free from emotional reactiveness. As Siegal says in his book Mindsight, "This is the receptive hub of the mind, the tranquil depth of the mental sea." In order to develop a Zen mindset, we have to tune into that aspect of ourselves. We do that by paying attention to our actions and responding to life instead of impulsively reacting to it. That creates lifelong changes in our brain that let us be thoughtful in our responses.
3. Exercise Regularly. With weekly exercise, a healthy diet, and a good night’s sleep, you could lay the foundation for important changes to take place in your brain. The more your brain changes in these important ways, the healthier it becomes; this ultimately leads to a happier life. Exercise is an undervalued treatment intervention. It releases endorphins, which fight off negative emotions and promote the further development of a mindful brain.
4. Don't Try to Change Your True Feelings. Just let things be: Trying to force yourself to feel differently than you do is an approach that goes nowhere fast. A Zen mindset involves accepting what is and not being held up by judging yourself for feeling a certain kind of way. Astonishingly, people find that letting things be also allows them to change. We should look at our inner selves with openness and acceptance rather than judgment. This entails being kind and cutting yourself some slack.
5. Stay Present in What You’re Doing. To stay present with whatever you're doing in this moment, you just need to acknowledge when your thinking goes astray and pulls you into the past or future. It can seem very difficult at first, but eventually, it becomes easier.
I guess I can check off at least 4 out of 5!
I hope you’re having a zen filled moment today wherever you may be.
All the loves,
Cousin Christine
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