One of the great gifts of meditation is that the rewards far exceed the effort. As was mentioned before, there are really no rules for meditation. There are a few suggestions that seem to work very well for people, and they are to breathe, to be silent, and then just observe what happens. That’s it. Trying meditation is one of the easiest assignments you will have in this book.
Give it a whirl today. You don’t have to find a special spot in a dark room with soothing music. You can do it in the car on the way to work, on the subway, in your room, at your desk, at the gym, on your bike, in your favorite chair, wherever you want. Just take a few minutes to be silent. Feel your breathing. Then, observe the thoughts that bubble up when you have this small opportunity to be quiet for a minute.
Do not judge your thoughts. Just notice them and let them flow on by. Some people like to imagine their thoughts like clouds that pass before their eyes slowly and softly. You watch them, but you don’t analyze them or reach for them or try to do something with them at this moment. You just see them float on by.
You may be surprised at what thoughts pop up in the silence. You are opening a window to your soul when you take the time to be quiet, and sometimes amazing ideas show up on one of those puffy clouds. Other times, your body might just enjoy the break. In this exercise, though, the results don’t matter. It’s the action of meditation that counts.
115
Meditation is an exercise in listening, and prayer is an exercise in communicating. They are both opportunities for reflection. Today, you will have another occasion to see if prayer is a useful tool in your life.
You do not have to believe in a particular god in order to pray. It is primarily a form of communication, so there are no prerequisite beliefs in order for it to be useful. If you do not believe in a god, then pick anything outside of yourself, and point your prayers in that direction. The idea is that you communicate with something outside of you. This is your chance to get your grievances, concerns, hopes, dreams, or fears out into the open so that they don’t weigh so heavily on your soul.
If you had an opportunity to give God or the universe (or your coffeemaker) a call, what would you say? Would you have a list of grievances several pages long? Maybe you’ve been saving a wish list of requests. You might also just want to say, “Hey, thanks. This has been a pretty cool ride so far.”
Give prayer a try today. Just like meditation, there are no rules. Prayer is an opening for you to communicate your feelings without necessarily having to confide in another living person. Your prayer can be as short as “Please!” or “Thank you!” On the other hand, if you have a lot on your mind, you can pray for as long as you want. Communicate today through prayer and observe how you feel afterward.
116
For the next few days, you will be studying the topic of endurance. One of the most important things to consider as you strive for success is that you are in a long distance race. The road to success is not a fifty-yard dash. There will be victories along the way, but the path stretches throughout your life.
Now that you are aware of that, take your time. Enjoy the view. Don’t bother with the shortcuts, because they’re not going to take you where you really want to go. Part of the joy of success is to discover the places that are worth going. Where do you want to travel in this marathon? What would you like to see?
Choose a path that will strengthen your mind, your heart, and your soul. That is not usually the easiest and shortest route, but it is always the most rewarding. Be patient with yourself as you travel. Celebrate all of your victories. Rejoice when you pass each mile marker, because you are on a path that is gradually fulfilling your dreams.
You spent some time over the last few months discovering your dreams and passions in life. Are you on a path that is leading toward them? Did you take a shortcut to obtain immediate gratification, or do you feel like you’re on a road that leads to your destiny? Shortcuts might emerge in the form of frivolous pursuits, shallow relationships, greedy endeavors, or any number of distractions that send you on a detour from your true path. Look out for those shortcuts and resist taking the easier and less rewarding route. Your assignment is to journal about the path you are on today.
117
