3-part meditation instruction

Most of our parents already taught us how to meditate, whether they intended to or not; the instruction is the mostly the same:

1) SIT DOWN: This is the opposite of engaging in multiple things or plugging into distraction. When sitting still, there is absolutely no where to run. It implies a stillness, requires a certain bravery, and a deep dedication to connecting with life. The very act of sitting still, is in itself, the correct mind of meditation.

2) SHUT UP: The mind is always full of thoughts, and we are addicted to them; at this point many of us have forgotten what it's even like to be unplugged.  There is a deep silence that can be found in the forests, while in the presence of oceans, in churches, and on the mountaintops; it's in our most sacred places. It's also in the mind and heart of a person, who mirrors the vast open space of silence, within. Mind...the final frontier.

3) LISTEN: If we listen, truly listen, we contact that which is always right in front of us; the subtle truths that all our business and busyness keep us distracted from. In the quiet, the pulse of God, the pulse of your own heart, and the pulse of the living moment can be heard and felt; fully. In deep listening we learn to let go; as letting go is both the practice, and the goal.

On that note, exhales of breath are rather symbolic as tools of practice. ...and when you're ready, even let go of the "you" that is doing the listening.

** This is a guest post from David Haas with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, and I dedicate it to the loving memory of my father who passed away in September from cancer.
When your body becomes extremely stressed, it goes into what is known as "the fight or flight" syndrome. In this syndrome, you will do anything to survive. For example, a person who is trapped underwater may feel an enormous amount of energy surge through their body, allowing them to fight anything that keeps them from reaching air. The adrenaline rush allows you to accomplish incredible things.

It is hard to explain what it's like to have your father take his final breath right in your arms and collapse into lifelessness. Death for my father came fiercely and unexpectedly, yet in the embrace of his family with words like "I've got you, I've got you, you're not alone in this," there was and always will be tremendous and powerful grace. For me, this shocking event took place September 18th, 2011 around 1:15pm in the home of my father who had terminal lung cancer. With open arms he was embraced by his family, just as he embraced life itself.

As a counselor and coach, I have the humble fortune of getting to know the deep recesses of a person's mind, the emotional longings of the human heart, and our ideal dreams for the future. In that rawness, I get to see that at our core none of us really wish to suffer, and all of us just want to be at peace, and be happy; and I don't think that's too much to ask. 

But what is this peace we seek? What does it even feel like? How will we know when we've found it? Will we begin to glow or something? Will cosmic rays rain in from the heavens? No, but that would certainly be interesting. ;)

I'll give you a hint, peace is wherever war and the struggle with life is at an end. Truly it's not find-able, purchase-able, attainable, or conquer-able. It's always (and all-ways) right where you are standing, right here in this moment, in every breath.  Here are a few concepts that might help "awaken" peace in your life. I hope this serves you. 

Adventures in Reverse Psychology

(begin sarcasm) The way I see it, there is so much obnoxious positivity out there in the world, and all these life coaches, counselors, and self-help gurus are all trying to make people happy, successful, and healthy. Bah! I say, let's bottle up our emotions, set the bar really low, and dodge progress like the plague. ;)

Here's what I'm wondering: "Is there some sort of users manual, or book on how to live a miserable life?" You'd be surprised to learn that there isn't a lot of info out there, only this insufferable positive thought. So when I couldn't find a how-to guide to suffering, I had to write it myself. Enjoy.

The last 14 years of my life have been profoundly dedicated to personal development, insight practices, and developing my therapeutic craft. During that time I have confronted my past and engaged in some transformational healing, I have targeted and achieved some amazing goals, including the creation of Paradigm Method™ Life Coaching, and I have eagerly explored the depths of my own heart and mind through spiritual practices like meditation and mindfulness.

In all that I have practiced and discovered, these 5 principles and practices stand out as having manifested the greatest impact on my life so far. If you are ready to take your life, career, health, or relationships to the next level, then get your pen and notebook ready, because here comes the top five to a happy life.

*This article also celebrates my one year anniversary of this adventure into blogging, and I look forward to many years more!