During this time of potentially acute
distress about whether or not we can keep a roof over our heads or feed our
families, it is more important than ever to get in touch with the power
within that God has given each of us.
Rather than spend time agonizing, we are
better served when we examine the problem situation thoughtfully and
carefully – in a contemplative way. This helps us remember that God
has already provided a way for us; we simply need to be still so that we
can grasp what the solution might be. Once our emotional responses
are stilled, we can hear God, and tap into the resources around
us.
Some call the act of being still and
letting God speak to us “centering” or becoming “centered.”
Definitions of both “contemplative” and
“centered” help us better understand why we might want to achieve both
states.
The definition of “contemplatively” comes
from Dictionary.com
Unabridged (v 1.1, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ©
Random House, Inc. 2006:
“Contemplatively - thoughtful, reflective,
meditative deeply or seriously thoughtful.”
The definition of “centered” comes from
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
“Centered: Self-confident, goal-oriented,
and well-balanced: "He's
a centered guy. He's always seemed to know what he wanted, and gone after
it in a concrete way" Vanity
Fair.”
Who wouldn’t want to be thoughtful,
reflective, meditative, self-confident, goal-oriented, and well balanced?
This week we decided to share some actions
that you can take to help you achieve this state. These suggestions come
from
We hope you find them helpful.
Centering is one of the simplest and most
common forms of contemplative practice. The “center” refers to a relaxed
yet focused state of mind. Centering practice is especially helpful in the
midst of strong emotional states such as excitement or anxiety, and is
often used by athletes, public speakers, actors, and anyone who wants to
feel stable and prepared before a potentially stressful event.
Anything that helps you feel tranquil and aware can become your centering
practice.
Common Centering Methods:
1. Count numbers, such as counting down from
10 to dissipate anger
2. Repeat a word or phrase, such as a prayer
or affirmation
3. Smile and relax your body
4. Go for a walk; get out into a different
environment
5. Stretch
6. Close your eyes and breathe deeply
7. Concentrate on breathing, such as
breathing out for a count of 8 and in for a count of 4
8. Count your breaths
9. Doodle or write
10. Carry or place near yourself a visual
reminder to stay centered, such as a quote or image
11. Use sound to bring yourself back to your
center. Periodically ring a bell, chime, or other gentle reminder.
Persistence is an important aspect of
centering practice. Purposefully centering yourself many times throughout the
day, even when you are not feeling particularly emotional or in need of
centering, will help to deepen your practice.
Unfortunately, in our society most of us
have schedules that keep us from taking time to think. When we don’t think,
we merely react. A reactive mode rarely brings clarity or
solutions. Here’s what the same resource had to say about the impact
of a cluttered schedule.
The problem of the cluttered schedule is
that we convince ourselves that we can't afford to do "nothing" for
any length of time. If we allow this mindset to permeate even our
contemplative practice, we are bound to experience the same pressures on
our mind and body.
Contemplative practices are not
distractions from daily activities. We must consider: Are our contemplative
practices mere diversions? Or are they touching something deeper in us?
Have we lost the ability to be at peace in our moments of rest? Cluttered
schedules not only constrict the time we have, but also manipulate our
understanding of value and worth. It is crucial to remember the simple
value and beauty of life as
it is, not as
it is used.
Take time out this week to be thoughtful,
reflective, and meditative. Get closer to God. Listen to the
solutions that will unfold. Follow through.
NOTE: The
Farmers' Market in East St. Louis is coming along quite nicely.
Please go to www.llife.org/farmersmarket.htm
for more information and recent videos.
Our Team is
blossoming! See the videos of East St. Louis District
Director Aubrey Keller speaking out on Equal Status
and Renaissance Leader Marlon Brown's powerful words
about his own learning and growth process.
Dr. Gerald
and the Successful Living Team
LLIFE
110 N. Main Street
East St. Louis, IL 62210
/span>
Manage
your subscription 