Feeling Powerless?
Taking a different kind of action.
Mindfulness Talk
My kid took her driver’s exam this week. For 6 months I was actively involved and by her side for the practicing and learning and mistake-making (and more than one near-death-experience LOL). But as I turned the corner to enter the small parent waiting room, my daughter was on her own to battle her nerves.
As I sat in one of the carefully spaced chairs, phone useless (no service), I realized I wasn’t actually confined to inaction. As someone who believes in sending out good vibes, I began to pray. My heart was beating fast and anxious, so it seemed natural to match my words to my breath and pretty soon I found myself doing a 108 mantra. I took one word or phrase (a mantra) and repeated it with each inhale and exhale 108 times. You can add movement, like yoga poses or walking, or do it sitting still. 108 is a super “viby” number (many religions use it and it also has mathematical significance with the sun and moon), but you can choose a different number or perhaps not count at all.
The word I chose to repeat was “dharana”, which in Sanskrit means “hold steady” or “concentrate”. Dharana is also what yogis call this practice of doing a prayer or meditation focussed on a mantra. (I had completely forgotten that when I chose my word!) Just as I finished, my daughter passed by with the tester and gave me the thumbs up. She was ready and focussed.
Just because we are sometimes powerless on the physical level, doesn’t mean we are powerless on the energetic level.
Meditation
Finding Present Meditation
Note: You are doing this to take action on the energetic level. You don’t have to follow this with any other type of action. This is enough.
If you want to do this 108 times, this 5 minute counter might be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG-ME47j31Y
Close your eyes (or let your eyes get soft and daydreamy) and breathe. Begin to think the mantra “I act”.
When you are ready, open your eyes and end here. Or, begin the mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation:
Continue this mantra meditation uncounted - just repeat the mantra and breathe. If you wish, you can use a different mantra.
Maybe:
with this I act
this is my work
intention is action
this is enough
Just breathe and repeat. Don’t be surprised if a thought or memory or feeling arises. Just notice it and let it hang around as long as it wants. Focus on your work, which is taking this energetic action.
Closing Routine:
When you are ready, rub fingers together and take three cleansing breaths. Or use any closing routine that works for you.
