Today I'm going to talk to you about discomfort in meditation and mindfulness.
So as you might know,
Mindfulness is the practice of non-judgmental awareness to the present moment.
Now,
This might seem a bit confusing at first,
Or maybe it makes sense to you.
Either way,
When we look at something like discomfort,
It could be pain,
It could be anger,
It could be sadness,
It could even be bodily discomfort,
Like stiffness in the body while we sit.
We might be tempted to refocus onto our breath,
If that is our anchor,
In a more,
Shall we say,
Aggressive way.
Oftentimes,
In our pursuit of mindfulness meditation and anchoring on the breath,
We can inadvertently use that as an avoidance mechanism to what we're experiencing in the moment.
That's why,
If you've heard any of my meditations,
You'll notice I give the cue,
Gently return to the breath.
Because after all,
If the point was only to return to the breath,
Then it would just be concentration,
Let's say,
Instead of mindful awareness.
The gentleness in question is a method of trying to reorient your relationship to the discomfort,
Because it's quite normal for us,
All of us,
Myself included,
To not want to feel discomfort.
It's incredibly natural to feel pain and think,
I would rather not be feeling this right now,
Let me distract myself from it.
Let's get back to the breath where I'm happy and safe.
And sometimes this is a good skill to develop.
Yet other times,
It is more skillful to sit with your discomfort for just a moment before returning to the breath.
To face your discomfort with a sense of non-judgmental awareness and equanimity.
That is the goal for our practice.
That is the goal for our lives.
Because when we no longer have a preferential focus on this discomfort,
Let's say it's stiffness in the body,
We no longer give it the attention and the power that it draws from us.
So I want you to practice right now,
Especially if there's any discomfort that's jumping out at you,
Might be a little bit of stiffness,
A little bit of agitation,
Maybe confusion over not quite understanding what I'm saying and that being the discomfort you choose.
Whatever it may be,
There's no wrong answer here.
And just practice viewing your discomfort through feel,
Through embodiment,
Through sensing.
Remembering that your discomfort is not the issue to run away from,
But the path through which you reach the present moment.
And as you feel yourself noticing the little subtleties of discomfort,
Stiffness,
Pain,
Confusion,
Sadness,
Whatever it is,
Just practice viewing it with a sense of curiosity.
Like,
What is this discomfort exactly?
More so,
What does it feel like to be uncomfortable in this moment,
Fully present in my discomfort?
Now practice breathing while you notice your discomfort.
Noticing both the inhales and the exhales,
Even as the discomfort is within the scope of your awareness.
Viewing both the breath and your discomfort.
As one and the same thing to be non-judgmentally aware of.
Both are just another experience of life.
And as you become distracted,
Notice if there's any discomfort around you becoming distracted.
And may that be your next way into the present moment.
Slowly and gently bringing your breath back into your awareness,
At the same time as your discomfort.
Both are your portals to the present moment and your awareness practice today.
Now,
Sometimes we might feel overwhelmed by our discomfort.
Perhaps the confusion is a bit too much,
The anger a bit too hot,
Or the pain just far too much to not judge as being bad.
If that's the case,
I welcome you to use your own wisdom in this case.
If you need to stop meditating at any time,
It's perfectly acceptable.
But if you would like a challenge,
I invite you to not shrink away from the discomfort.
If you feel called and ready,
I invite you to immerse yourself into this discomfort.
As long as you're not in any danger of harm,
Just notice it.
What is it like to be consumed,
Absolutely consumed by your discomfort?
That it feels unbearable.
Be present with that feeling of unbearable discomfort.
Again,
With a sense of curiosity,
Enlivened by the discomfort.
Notice how the discomfort impacts your body and your mind.
How does it twist you?
How does it change you?
Like learning about a new area that you've never been before.
Really try to take in all the new things that you're learning about yourself in this present moment.
Remembering that this is neither good nor bad,
But another life experience to be lived and brought into awareness with a compassionate heart.
And when you feel ready,
And when you feel called,
You can slowly open your eyes and take in the room around you.
Become aware again of your external environment,
And I invite you to bring this practice with you into your day.
Anytime you might feel a little bit of discomfort,
Bring some mindfulness to it.
Notice the discomfort as just another experience of life,
Not something to be avoided,
Just another moment for us.
Thank you.
