I did something the other day that I don’t normally do. I picked out a movie, put away my phone, my computer, newspaper, and notebook and watched it from start to finish without answering a single text or deleting a single email. It was amazing and I learned a lot about myself as I focused in on the artistic and award-winning endeavor created by a fellow human.
It was hard for me in several different instances as I felt an inner wishing that the plot would be clearer or go faster or something...I wasn’t sure what this un-ease was. I spent the first 30+ years of my life watching a TV show, going to a movie, or reading a book without answering a text or feeling the need to cross something off my to-do list in tandem with a leisure activity. It took me nearly an hour to settle into the story and let it be enough.
Part of the challenge was the movie itself, which was animated and had no speaking parts. I was forced to really pay attention to the artistry and the language of the earth and the animals to get the message of the film.
I think it’s a lot like meditating sometimes. We are told to “quiet our thoughts” or “empty our mind” which immediately prompts fun things like more thoughts and a fuller mind! When we relax into the knowing that our mind is meant to have thoughts, but we don’t have to entertain them – and perhaps use a tool like breathwork or chanting, it’s easier to become peaceful in meditation.
One of my favorite sayings is practice makes better. Perfection is very rarely attainable, and we have learned to berate ourselves when we don’t hit the mark of perfection. Consistent practice, however, does yield better results. Whether you’re practicing meditation, yoga, reiki, Buddhism, or just doing one thing at a time. One thing is for sure: the more you practice, the better results you’ll see.
Angels have shown me through my discomfort what areas of my life need the most practice. My goal is to focus on one thing at a time. I bet, when my focus isn’t so scattered, my observations and intuition will increase. I’m excited to see where this leads!
