The Limits of Navel Gazing

I'm old enough to remember a silly phrase that was used back in the day when referring to meditation. As  eastern meditation practices made their way to the US in the 1960's and 70's, many were suspicious and considered these efforts a waste of time, and simply 'endless navel gazing.'  Somehow, contemplating one's own life was ridiculous and pondering one's belly button or human existence was dismissed and ridiculed.

Fast forward to today, and meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices are trendy and everywhere. We practice yoga or meditation with the idea that we will calm and quiet the chatter in our own minds and somehow be able to live our lives from a space of tranquility and quiet strength. All of those things are worthy goals, yet any contemplative practice can end up being a bit meaningless or at least devoid of its richness if it becomes too focused on self rather than our connection to others and all living beings. If we pay lip service to being more peaceful and content, and then head out into the world and go right back to being judgy or aggressive in our speech or actions, we aren't really living out our meditation practice.

How do we use our meditation or mindfulness practices in a way that benefits us and our world? While an internal and very personal process, quieting the mind and becoming more focused and thoughtful only takes us so far. It's when we link that quiet presence with our values and beliefs that we find true and meaningful change. When we learn that we can find a stillness and calm within, we become less reactive and fearful about outside events. We get a bit more able to sidestep petty dramas and let go of having to control every detail. We explore what we really hold dear and begin to live our lives in ways that reflect what we truly value. When we move away from fear and reactivity, we can respond in ways that honor and reflect who we truly want to be in the world. When we're scared, we get panicked, grabby and worried about getting our fair share. When we can stay out of fear and in a state of presence and awareness, we can see abundance and make the difficult and challenging decisions to stay aligned with our deepest truths.

I  hope you take time today for some quiet, whether it is a yoga practice, meditation time, or contemplative prayer. Remember the goal is to help you be a better human. It doesn't mean things will always go smoothly and you'll never be sad or frightened. When the next big challenging thing confronts you, may you have the strength and resilience to rely on what you've practiced. Pause, breathe, consider all options. Then move forward with strength and the commitment to living a life that aligns with your deepest truths.