Hey,
It's Doug.
Thanks for being here with me.
Before I start my message for the day,
I just want you to get into a comfortable seat.
Close those eyes and just begin to come home to the breath and to that experience of yours.
Nothing fancy,
Just sitting and breathing.
Taking a moment to make this time yours,
Carving out this time for you.
As you're doing that,
I'm just going to explain the concept of today's session.
One of the most used words these days is triggered.
A term that conjures up a state of mind that that causes us to implode or explode.
We all suffer from it.
As far as I'm concerned,
The major feature of being triggered is not what pulls our trigger,
But rather the fact that we are walking around with a loaded gun in our mind.
Metaphorically,
Of course.
Our brains can do so many things,
But when we convince them that they are in danger,
Well,
Surprise,
Surprise,
They go on the defensive.
What we need to do is refrain from this way of thinking to effectively disarm ourselves.
We can think of it like the famous photo of a student placing a dandy flower in a soldier's gun at a protest.
You may have seen this image before.
It's entitled Flower Power,
And if you haven't,
It's worth checking out.
It's a powerful image where one student defies the army by simply placing a singular flower down the barrel of the gun,
Showing that love will always conquer violence.
Now,
We're going to use that same concept today.
Let me show you how.
Now,
This may get a little uncomfortable,
But stay with me,
Okay?
From that lovely,
Calm state you're in,
I want you to think of three aspects of pain or hurt or annoyance in your life right now.
Basically,
Anything that is causing you distress.
I like to think of these as the bullets in that loaded gun I spoke about earlier.
Now,
As you go through things that are upsetting you at the moment,
See if you can order them from least to most distressing.
So,
Just three things and then just put them in order.
All right,
Got it?
If not,
Just press pause.
Nice.
Let's go through the first one together.
Bring that least annoying thing to the front of your mind.
Now,
I need you to be brave here.
I want you to lean into this bullet,
This distress.
Don't deny it.
Don't rationalize why you think that way or make excuses for feeling that way.
Just embrace it.
No judgment.
Notice how it hurts or how it frustrates you.
Think of why it hurts.
The real reason.
Notice how it makes you feel.
Is it a anger?
An irritation?
A disappointment?
A hatred?
Whatever it is,
Lean into it.
Let your body feel it.
Don't distract yourself from it.
Embrace it.
Now,
Here's how we generate that dandy flower and put it in the proverbial barrel.
Find something about this situation to be grateful for.
Now,
Don't tell me nothing.
Find something.
I said this was a powerful meditation.
I didn't say it was an easy one.
So,
Think about how this distress may have helped you in some way.
Has it brought you closer to someone else?
Has it made you stronger?
Maybe a little bit wiser?
Has it brought something positive into your life?
You get the idea.
Find your gratitude.
Now,
Let that gratitude overcome the harm,
The hate and the hurt.
Let the two do battle as you generate a loving force instead of a lethal force.
Giving thanks to this opportunity,
No matter how small.
Now,
Use that love and that gratitude and forgive whoever needs to be forgiven,
Including yourself.
All right,
Let's move on to the second bit of distress.
Same deal.
Reimagine it.
Relive it.
Explore it.
Explore where you feel it.
Where it hurts.
Explore the stories that come with it.
The pain that accompanies it.
Don't shy away from it.
Feel it.
Describe it.
Now,
Find that gratitude.
Find the positive,
The pleasure amongst the pain.
This can be your superpower.
Now,
Give thanks to the situation and forgive all those who need forgiving.
With gratitude levels on a high now,
That gun is almost unloaded.
Last one,
But this one is going to be all you.
Remember three things.
Find the gratitude.
Forgive the transgressor.
That's a harder one this one,
I know.
Repeat it if necessary.
All right,
Nicely done.
It's an emotional one for sure.
Good job.
You can now walk a little freer,
A little safer,
And a little more peaceful.
Just a note though,
The forgiveness you gave out is not because that person or that thing deserves forgiveness,
But rather you deserve peace from the distress.
And there's a difference.
Until next time,
Namaste.
