Blog

Just loved this meaning by Dan Harris - learning to respond wisely to things happening to you.

He expanded by explaining that it was the ability to know what is happening in your mind at any moment and not reacting to it!

I listened to his You Tube podcast on “Mindfulness” this week. And it got me wondering how you use mindfulness in your dealings with life happenings in your day to day encounters.

Harris went on to give some simple examples like your reaction to the person cutting you off in traffic or what drives me crazy, sitting in slow moving traffic. Then I get irritated and start talking to the trucks and cars that block my sightline.

Harris’s suggestion for calming yourself and coming to terms eventually with your response to events in your world is meditation.

His younger self thought differently about the origins and purpose of meditation. But he has changed his opinion later in life once he found out how meditation has changed his response to happenings in his life.

He qualified that meditation is not a cure all for all reactions, especially very large events in our lives, but a stepping stone to dealing with some of our reactions.

Do you meditate?

I have to admit that I don’t meditate even though I have tried it out repeatedly. In my defense, painting puts me in a meditative state while I am in the zone as I call it. So maybe that is why I have a difficult time keeping it up by doing it by itself.

That is what happens to me when putting my feelings in my art paintings about important happenings that I have little control over, like some social issues. It is my solution for venting and coming to terms with my responses to the bigger happenings in the world. And for the viewers and owners of those paintings, creating a voice that speaks to them and settles them down.

As you know from my previous posts, ART has proven health powers to heal. 

Because it allows your brain and heart to stop and examine your reactions, the style, the textures, the movement and whatever else it represents to make you feel the way you do while viewing it. And if it speaks to you, it gives you the feeling and satisfaction that you are living your truth whatever that may be. And that there are others who feel the same truth as you do. There is something to be said about validating your truth and your authentic self with others of similar beliefs. 

These paintings serve a dual purpose. One, they are visually stimulating and give you a feeling of happiness when viewing them, as I am told. And they also are able to promote a positive dialogue with another person if that is your wish. 

Possible Outcome:

That is better than shouting at people bringing the news that stresses me out. And if meditation can help with our reactions to events, why not try it? While I learn somewhat to respond wisely to the big events by painting, I still need to learn to alter my response to the little things like trucks and cars! What do you do to respond wisely? 

Do you try to be mindful by examining your reactions to what is bothersome to you? Do you meditate? And if so, what does it do for you. Don't forget that this affects your health and is important.

Listen to Dan Harris's mindful podcast and let me know what you think.