Before a meditation practice, I was once invited to relax the body and "reassure this troubled little mind." The words were tenderly spoken by the teacher, Heather Martin, and I smiled at the image they conjured. Before she spoke, I'd been inside my mind (as usual), wrapped up in its tangled inner workings. But now I saw "this troubled little mind" as if apart from me: a busy little thing, so often worried or uncertain, trying so hard to understand, to make things right. Without hesitation, my heart extended a sense of care. In response, my "little mind" paused its work, growing wide and quiet.
It's such a small thing - offering a moment of care to ourselves or others. Yet it can have such a profound effect. In just a moment, the state of the mind and body can completely shift.
You might consider a time you felt cared for by others, or by a caring part of yourself. What stands out to you?
Perhaps tension eased. Or grief softened. Or joy intensified. Perhaps the challenges before you seemed more manageable. Or you felt permission to be just as you are.
As we've discussed before, it's not always easy to receive care - especially from ourselves. It's an ongoing practice. Each time we sit down to meditate, or stand in front of our artwork-in-progress, or wait in line at the grocery store, we might remember to check in with ourselves. As we can, we might offer a moment of care. Care might simply be attention. Or a friendly curiosity. Or a warm word or compassionate gesture. Care can look different from day to day, and moment to moment. It can evolve and change as we evolve and change.
In our next Mindfulness & Creativity session, we'll practice extending care to ourselves in our meditations. We'll explore different possibilities of what care can look like, observing the effects of each. We'll consider why care - kindness, compassion, warmth - can be a transformative ingredient for mindfulness, creativity, and well-being.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Hannah
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