developing a “new normal”
We are now faced with figuring out what our “new normal” looks like in this time of recovery from a pandemic that is slowly calming down. These two little words are filled with such wonder, “new normal”. They can create a sense of fear or a wonderous anticipation of being able to reset our lives; make things right. Start over with a clean slate. It is your choice. A crucial part of establishing our new normal is creating a new mindset. The state of our mindset is essential to the existence of our peace, joy, and purpose. All too often, it is the one piece of our personal development journey that we ignore. Without this piece of the process, your transformation is shaky and vulnerable. Focusing on having a healthy mindset in your new normal is key to setting yourself up to NOT revert back to old harmful ways.
moving into a healthy quiet mindset
What is mindset? Mindset is the way you think about who you are and how you approach life. It is made up of your belief system. If you believe that life is about what you achieve and how other people value who you are, you are limiting yourself in reaching a higher level of existence; a level of experiences that creates joyful and peaceful purpose for your life. On the other hand, if you believe that life is about endless possibilities that require integrity, self-discipline, and perseverance, you build a life of constant learning and discovery. You open up the world to unlimited potential. When you develop a mindset of discovery, you can then develop a place deep inside your soul, where your mind transcends into your heart; where emotional knowledge, direction and insight resides. I call this place my “Quiet”; a sacred place I visit often through the day.
“Others inspire us, information feeds us, practice improves our performance, but we need quiet time to figure things out, to emerge with new discoveries, to unearth original answers.” – ESTER BUCHHOLZ
discovering your “quiet”
In the space between your heart and your mind that I call “Quiet” and Marilyn Mitchell M. D. calls “Heart”, lies such profound truth. It is a place of mindfulness, where you can connect with peace, creativity, and wellbeing. In this sacred place, you can intentionally develop your intuition. To find this place inside your soul, takes patience, practice, and concentration. This divine place of unlimited knowledge may take a while to unearth but the journey is as exhilarating as it is peaceful. Though there are different techniques to tap into your “Quiet”, a good place to begin is by mindful breathing. Finding a quiet place, take a deep breath holding for the count of 4, then slowly count backwards from 10 to 0. If you run out of breath before you get to 0, just relax and keep counting backwards. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
“Most people rarely align with their true power because it seems illogical to them that there is power in relaxation, in letting go, or in love or joy or bliss. Most people do not understand that their true power lies in releasing resistance.” – ABRAHAM HICKS
exercise the quiet process
Repeat this breathing technique until you feel relaxed. Next, concentrate on relaxing each part of your body, from the top of your head all the way down to the tips of your toes. Think about each section one-at-a-time. Picture pouring love into each section as you relax that section of your body. Once your whole body is like jelly, picture bringing your mind down into your heart. Picture them as 2 different emotional parts of your spiritual system. You can visualize this in many different ways, and you can change up the visualization from time to time. You can picture emoji hearts bursting as they meet or actually feel a sense of overpowering love as they unite. Tell yourself that you are in the process of surrender and move to a state of openness to whatever enlightenment is coming. Create patience for the insight that lies just ahead.
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.” – Ma Jaya Sati Shagavati
the magic of quiet
If you are a spiritual, faithful person, you can make this a part of your preparation for prayer as I do. If you believe the universe is in charge, picture yourself getting ready to have deep communication with the universe. Some may be relying on their higher power; you get the picture. In our “Quiet”, is a place of unspoken conversation between hearts. I sometimes visualize this process as getting ready to speak to that part of myself that knows good from bad, evil from truth and wisdom from foolishness. Meditation and Guided Visualization can help develop “Quiet”. I try different things and combinations. At first, you will most likely only experience relaxation. The body must go through a process of complete relaxation before tapping into the well of knowledge and truth.
“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So, you’d better learn the sound of it. Otherwise, you’ll never understand what it’s saying.” – SARAH DESSEN
that quiet place of knowledge
This process of developing a mindset of truth and possibilities is not hypnosis or evil psychic practices. 1 Samuel 1:12-13 says, “…as she kept praying…she spoke in her heart…only her lips moved…”. Genesis 24:45 says, “But before I finished speaking in my mind…” and Father Anthony M. Coniaris describes meaningful prayer as “the mind transcends into the heart”. It may take you months to develop to the point where you receive definite, clear direction. It is important to realize that the process reveals enlightenment from the very first time you begin to intentionally experience mindful stillness and relaxation. Each time you practice relaxing stillness, your physical body begins to release soothing hormones, begins to heal inflammation resulting in calming anxiety and soothing the chaos in your environment. Trust the process. Each time you practice, you move closer and closer to a place of peace, direction, and communication with truth.
Many years my friend, many years....