Day 66 - A Year to Clear - Answer The Phone - Calming Meditation

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Lesson 66: Answer The Phone - Calming Meditation

“When the telephone rings, the bell creates in us a kind of vibration, maybe some anxiety: “Who is calling? Is it good news or bad news?” . . . The next time you hear the phone ring I recommend that you stay exactly where you are, and become aware of your breathing: “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.””
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, writer of Present Moment, Wonderful Moment, brings in a mindful verse. This is a powerful calming meditation exercise that doesn’t necessarily need to be used for answering phone calls but I think in general. I tend to do a similar meditation at work. Just to take a step back, do some breathing and continue on with the work.

Really you have to close your eyes, breathe out any tension or anxiety you have. I’ve mentioned before that I imagine this as like a black energy or smoke escaping me. Then it’s about inhaling in some goodness, which I usually imagine as white light/energy. Stephanie Bennett Vogt mentions this as “pure awareness and possibility”. It’s just about recognising how you feel at that moment but not let it overwhelm you. I find it’s about breathing out as much as you can, or fully if you’re able to. Stephanie mentions to repeat the mantra from the quote "Breathing in, I calm my body. . . Breathing out, I smile."

Once you feel like you’ve really got what you needed from this meditation, open your eyes and notice how you feel after. It’s definitely a relief and a feeling of being lighter. I love it! And though this lesson was in reference to your phone, I think you should really apply it anywhere. Sure, some people get anxious towards their phone calls and this exercise was really about doing this meditation every time you get a call/email, but I really don’t receive calls that much to practise this exercise. I think for me, I’ll apply it for any time I feel overwhelmed and need a pick me up.

Day 66 - A Year of Spiritual Awakening - Choosing to Distract

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Photo by Craig Ren on Unsplash

Photo by Craig Ren on Unsplash

Lesson 66: You may choose to distract...

When we feel pain, we sometimes don’t want to face it because it’s too much or too hard. It can become too overbearing and that’s why we tend to close off and distract ourselves. Today’s lesson is all about opening ourselves up to the pain because it’s “the first truth of what you have suffered” and is a “Divine relief”. If we remain open to healing, it will make us feel better. I am to think about this today.

I think as I’m expanding on my spiritual path, I have never truly understood the above, until now. There is so much to release and clear before you can truly feel inner bliss. I am in no way finished with dealing with my pain, which has accumulated over the years, but I know it’s a working progress. I am aware of what pain I have, and what old habits and thoughts I need to release, to truly get to where I need to be. I don’t think this is an overnight type of deal. Take on what you can slowly and once you can recognise what caused you pain, it’s then taking the steps for compassionate release.

I definitely agree that in working on your own pain, it does make you feel better. There is no more burden. It really is a relief when you’ve opened your space for more good things to arrive. Have a think about what your pain can do for you.