Being The Wave On The Water

Connecting With Our Essential Nature To Rest and Experience Peace

The last few nights, I have been unusually anxious. Normally a heavy sleeper, I go to bed after another busy day listening to my beloved Michael Sealey hypnosis tapes (if you know, you know). I awaken refreshed and rejuvenated. But lately, I am like the device you thought you turned off that keeps coming back online.

Events in the "real world" have been heavy on my mind. I am also grieving some personal losses and heartache. I have seen an uptick in my Youtube activity:as a result: podcasts on British Tudor history seem to soothe my frayed nerves as I work from home. I listen to the Rest Is History podcast as I go about my day, escaping into lives and events from the far past. It is somehow comforting to know that the epic battles, crises, and tragedies from hundreds of years ago have come and gone- the more things change, the more they stay the same.

But you can only go so long before facing reality.

For me, that looks like writing. Specifically, letters to my higher power, or just free flowing journall entries.

I have long used this kind of spiritulal scribing to get in touch with myself and commune with the divine, but lately I have been a bit blocked.

It's like I dont want to feel, speak or reflect. I just want to numb.

I think I have been losing my faith. It takes courage to face reality in trying times.

However, I am a spiritual person on a spiritual path, so last night as I tossed and turned, I knew what I had to do: Pick up the pen.

As a hypntherapist trained in neuroscientific approaches, I know that simpky writing by hand changes the pathways of the brain: you can write your way into new realities, change habits, and move through difficult feelings. Forging new neural pathways through the physical act of writing creates change.

I found out as I wrote last night that I am scared, I am lonely, I am worried, and I feel powerless. I also found out that I am loved, have hope, and can appreciate the beauty in my life with gratitude.

Scribbling into the night, the logjam freed up. The floodgates opened, and the light began to crack through the veil of the dark. I needed to get honest and current with myself to experience this movement.

I woke up willing.

I listened to a beautiful Dharma talk from Thich Nhat Hanh ( linked below) about Resting in God. He used many eloquent metaphors, but the one that popped for me was in his example of the wave.

When we are disturbed by life's ups and downs, we are like waves being tossed and turned, experiencing chaos, disruption and drama. But if we take time to reflect, we will see that the wave is part of the ocean. If you can make time to sit, breathe, and reflect, you can let go of being tempest- tossed and release into your true and unlimited peaceful nature. The wave is part of the ocean. Just so are we a part of the greater consciousness.

Whatever your spiritual practice, or lack thereof, you have time to sit and breathe. I promise. And as you do, remember that the wave is a part of the ocean.

To hear Thich Nhat Hanh's dharma stalk talk, click the link below.

https://youtu.be/n6t_jXu6P70?si=Q_xXZnW4ovCTSEdj