We can attain the freedom of enlightenment by deliberately choosing to cultivate self-compassion, kindness, appreciative joy, and wisdom.
While “enlightenment” may sound like a lofty goal, there are exercises “practices” that can help you develop the habit of “waking up.” In fact, odd as it may seem, by the end of this blog, you will know 8 ways to become an “awakened one.”
We need to teach ourselves practical skills that help us catch and change painful mental states before they can take over. Here are 8 “wake-up calls”.
- Wake up from story-suffering.
It is a common experience to realize that you’ve been lost in thought, torturing yourself with dramatic, distorted stories about your past or future. Instead of chiding yourself, label that realization as a moment of enlightenment.
- Wake up to the present moment.
A non-judgmental awareness of the present moment usually defined as “mindfulness” is “a moment of peace with our life as it is.” To practice savoring the present moment, tell yourself the phrase, “Just this!”
- Wake up by tuning in to body sensations.
Embrace the present moment by tuning in to the sensations in your body. Your body can be a “doorway to awakening” because the physical sensations you are experiencing bring you into the “now.” Focusing on your breath, as you inhale and exhale, is one way to turn your attention away from unproductive thinking and toward the present moment.
- Wake up by accepting your unpleasant feelings.
When a challenging emotion like anger, sorrow, self-criticism, worry, or envy arises, acknowledge that unpleasant feeling and treat it in a friendly way like a guest inside your own mind. Acknowledging the presence of an unpleasant experience is itself a moment of awakening because it’s a moment of gracefully engaging our life as it is for us right now.
- Wake up by practicing self-compassion.
Every moment that we truly feel kind and friendly toward ourselves and others is a moment of freedom from suffering.” Unfortunately, most of us have an inner critic that can bombard us with devastating criticism. Confront your own inner critic by realizing how much you blame yourself for chronic illness, mental suffering or physical pain.
- Wake up from judging others.
There is a useful distinction between “assessing” others and “judging” others. “Assessing” is the neutral sizing up of people and could be considered a skill that is necessary for survival. “Judging” adds our standard of how we think things should be to the mix. Counter the habit of judging others by embracing a positive thought about them.
- Wake up from envy and resentment.
These two mental states are the source of suffering for many. Being able to truly feel “appreciative joy” at another’s good fortune may take practice, but it can be an anti-toxin to the poisons of envy and resentment. To develop this habit, make an intentional choice to rejoice in the good fortune of others.
- Wake up by cultivating wisdom.
True awakening and positivity is having a peace and well-being that aren’t dependent on whether a particular moment is pleasant or unpleasant. What a relief to tell yourself, “I don’t need for my life to be perfect to be at peace!”
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