In between activities, in Life’s pauses – or as a seemingly constant inner background – where does the mind go? Does the mind – do I – go to shortage of something, or yearning for something?
What is that something? Peace? Joy? The experience of being loved? Time alone? The company of another? The touch of another? Movement or activity? Energy? Motivation? The experience of health and vigor? Alcohol or another drug? Food? Money? Freedom from stress? Rest? I am familiar with all of those thoughts!
Where does that habit of mind come from?
We know that Life is one choice – conscious or not – after another. We can change our habits. We can outgrow habits that do not serve us.
To begin, do we choose to remain in shortage and yearning, feeling sorry for ourselves, or do we choose a path of self-examination, growth, service and joy?
What sources of joy and gratitude do we have enough of, even an abundance, which offset our perceived shortages, which assuage our yearning, or which at least help put them in a healthful perspective?
Do we bring our consciousness out of anxiety, self-righteousness and self-pity and to cultivation of awareness of our inner Spirit, or inner Source of wisdom and peace; of patience (including with ourselves); of gratitude; and of love?