While battling a personal issue, I found, along with the reading syndrome, a reluctance to meditate. Its not so difficult to just sit and breathe and watch your mind but the inner turbulence was extreme. Last night i finally got somewhere close and also discovered the subterranean anxiety that rules our times.
With me the anxiety is often about health of loved ones, my own health, food contamination, water and money shortages, climate change, environment.... but i notice i am not alone. People around me are also engaged in anxieties- often more personal than worldly- careers, relationships... I look at my mothers life and find it far less wound up over these issues.... the only stress was financial, sometimes. Mostly there was optimism and good cheer.
Almost in sync I chose to listen to REM and figured for the first time the level of anxiety in their songs- starting with 'Try not to breathe', 'ignoreland', Everybody Hurts..... onto 'Belong' 'Losing my religion'....
I wonder and this may sound totally fantastical... if all these dense vibrations in the air carrying mobile, internet and other wireless data are creating a buzz and riff in our heads??
Who is chilling out then? vagabonds, wandering babas, some children.... spiritually absorbed people.... poets maybe?
Time to meditate.
I too have been a voracious reader all my life but found it 'difficult' since the last couple of years. And then there has been a shift in the last couple of months as I can again 'just be' with books, occasionally. I have also started meditating since the last 3 months. On reading your post yesterday, I felt that for me, meditation did lead to resuming the reading habit.
ReplyDeleteanjali
The world outside appears as you are inside. Go deeper than the mind to the very Self and regain your centre. You can say affirmations e.g. I am naturally safe, easily calm and joyfully protected. Then visualize this state and feel how it feels.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, become a detached observer of yourself and connect with Nature. It's positivity may restore the present imbalance.
And listen to some positive music please. How about "It's a wonderful world." by Louis Armstrong.
Anxiety and stress... stress and anxiety. It's the legacy we seem to be leaving our children. By "we" I mean society. Though we do spend a lot of time chilling in our house... spontaneous gatherings and parties, and the YOUTH love it, because they don't have to be stoned or drunk to enjoy some chilling time.. but still I wonder is it enough to offset the times I am anxious and stressed, and Godde knows that I am those things often enough.
ReplyDeleteI understand why young people take drugs. Mushrooms, Ecstacy, MDMA. It's to see the world as a good place, as mysterious, it's to see beyond the superficial. They get insights that society does not give them, even forbids. They go inside their minds, hearts, and outside into new perspectives. Breathing slowly is the best option, but I get why they need a hint.
anxiety is cheap to attain, but it cost a lot in piece of mind, this in me raises all pressures, pressure to perform, or try to; pressure to attain, pressure to be appreciated, and my blood pressure too. To resolve this I end up doing all the wrong things. And that is because i,m not connected to my intuitive self, or just the Self.
ReplyDeleteDeep breathing, and reminding my self that I am a peaceful being, self supporting, and not in a race with anybody or any thin, usually brings about atleast temporary relief, If I want it bad enough I can build on this foundation. What a beautiful practice reading is, you don't even remember for own mind.