Serenity Practice: Summer 2009

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Start Your Day More Gently!

The first half hour may be the most important time of your day; how you spend it may change your life.

Most of us find ourselves each morning in a scenario similarly to the following: The alarm goes off, mostly with a less than pleasant sound. It takes a second or so before the noise reaches our consciousness. It then takes three to four seconds before we are halfway willing to open our eyes, just wide enough to catch a glimpse on the perpetrator. It feels, of course, far too early to get up. We hit the snooze button in a vague hope that this swift action delivers us from all evil of the day. It certainly does not. A few minutes later, the alarm goes off a second time with relentless precision. If we hit the snooze button again, we run the risk to make everything worse. And we know it.

So we rush out of bed, do what ever we have to do in the bathroom, rush off to the closet to get dressed, and dash into the kitchen for coffee and cereal. If we share our living space with crying babies, moaning teenagers, or furry pets, we tend to them as soon as a time gap of five seconds opens up.

We do all this with a higher or lesser degree of resentment, tension in the muscles, shallow breathing, and - most of all – with deep unconsciousness.

In this mental and physical condition we leave home to drop off the kids and to rush to work. Utterly stressed out we arrive at the office.

We have successfully set the stage for another day of merciless busyness. We probably will eat the wrong stuff, get mad easily, and are unaware of the voice in our head that constantly urges us to do this or that quickly and that bombards us with “you should,” “you ought to,” and “why haven’t you!”

Can it be otherwise?

Yes. Get up at least half an hour earlier and start your day gently.

Then what?

Here are a few suggestions:

Begin your day with . . .

• Inspirational reading
  What about some poems by Rumi?
  Rumi was born in September of 1207 in a town that is now Afghanistan. Coleman Barks, a poet himself, describes Rumi as one "of the world's great lovers of God's presence in humanity." And Houston Smith, author of The Worlds' Religions states that Rumi is "the most-read poet in America today." 
  
  You surely have heard of Eckhart Tolle, one of the best-known spiritual teachers of our time. His books have a density that invites the reader to read only one paragraph (or chapter) at a time. This is ideal if you don't have unlimited time to read.
   

• Inspirational listening
  Listen to relaxing music or to an audio program of your favorite spiritual teacher!
  Listening may require less mental activity and concentration than reading. This is an ideal start of the day for everybody who needs time in the morning to "arrive."
  Sounds True is a good source to check for audio programs that interest you.
   

• Gentle yoga stretches
  Although most of us are stiffer in the morning, yoga will make you feel better. Be sure to let go of any competitiveness in your mind. Let your body tell you what it needs.
   

• Meditation
  If all of the above is already too much activity, just sit quietly for five minutes or so and listen to your breath.
  Jack Kornfield has an excellent program for absolute beginners. Visit Links and More for more information.
  Alternatively, you can listen to a guided visualization. My "little lake" (serenity practice for winter 2008/2009) may be a good start.
   

• Autogenic Training
  AT is a European mental self-relaxation technique so effective that is has been used by NASA, the American space agency.
  Visit my section on Autogenic Training to learn more.
   

• Journaling
  Journaling is very therapeutic. It helps you to gain insights and clarity.
  Don't worry about grammar and spelling while writing!
  Make sure that you use a nice-looking journal that invites you to get back to it on a regular basis.
   

• Spending time outdoors
  Do you have a quiet patio, porch, or garden? Watch the day break, listen to the morning song of the birds, feel the cool air on your skin, and notice your sense of connection with creation grow!

You may need to experiment to find the best method that fits to your personality and your current condition of consciousness.

Please, do not underestimate the importance of how you begin the day! Regardless of what you choose for a gentler start, you will connect to a deeper realm that lies beyond the necessities of daily life. You will develop heightened awareness, thus creating space within you.

It is this inner spaciousness that will allow you to maintain serenity and inner freedom.

Not necessarily for the entire rest of the day. The effect of a gentler start may last one to two hours. This, however, will increase over time and with consistency.

Of course, the alarm will still go off and its sound may still be unpleasant. Now, however, you have something to look forward to: half an hour just for yourself!

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