Wait, what?!

And a meditation to help you find balance.

Hello,

We live with near-constant uncertainty. Things can change in an instant. We think we know how things will go, but do we really? We plan our days expecting familiar outcomes and then wham, we get a piece of news, or life happens, and we find ourselves cast onto an unfamiliar path. Sometimes it’s a wonderful change, other times, not so much.

Photo by Julia Caesar

Finding balance amidst life’s ups and downs is possible, but it involves building up an important skill — equanimity, being receptive without overreacting. It can be difficult to remain steady amidst change. Meditation helps. A consistent meditation practice will allow you to find your center more easily when things go askew.

Being aware of what is happening in front of us involves having an open and observant mind along with a healthy dose of curiosity. When we are more curious, we tend to be less attached to a particular outcome.

But it’s not just noticing what is happening around you, it also is necessary to be aware of your biases and habits. For example, do you always get your news from the same source? Talk only with like-minded people? Can you practice listening to another point of view to understand where someone else is coming from? Can you hold your center without becoming reactive? Do you rush to fix things before understanding the full scope of issues? Do you avoid difficult topics? Do you fill your days so completely that it’s hard to sit still, or fall asleep at night?

Knowing ourselves and the habits we want to work on (without being harshly self-critical, please), is a big part of living a balanced life. Good news! You should find this week’s meditation helpful in this regard. It will ground us in the present moment and help us cultivate the balance we need to navigate life’s ever-present twists and turns.