“Pulling the Arrow Back”

Last time I shared with you some reasons why taking some “me time” a.k.a. meditation is important. This week I’d like to further elaborate on “why” it is important. A teacher of mine once said that all progress in life happens through the interplay between rest and activity. Ok, well let’s take a closer look at this statement together with the help of the bow and arrow analogy.

Let’s pretend a bow and arrow is something new to us, something we’ve never seen before. We might think it slightly absurd that in order to hit the target in front of us that we must first pull the arrow back in the opposite direction, but the mechanics of the bow say that we should pull back the arrow. So we do as we’re instructed, we pull back the arrow, line up the target in our sights then we let go and BAM! The arrow goes flying toward the target with great speed, covering many yards when we only pulled the arrow back a few inches.

By the simple act of pulling the arrow back a little ways on the bow we create potential energy for the arrow to soar through the air. The act of meditation has the same potential in our daily lives. When we are confronted with a whole days worth of activities, it might seem counter-productive to take a few minutes to sit quietly, but like the arrow in the analogy you will go further and be more productive if you have taken some time to “pull back” and recharge yourself.

One of the benefits of meditating is that we achieve a deep state of rest while remaining completely awake. While meditating the body is inactive but not asleep, and the mind remains awake. We’ll call this a state of wakeful-resting. This is contrary to the state of deep sleep when the body and mind are in a state of rest and are not awake. It is also contrary to the waking state when both body and mind are awake and active. Studies have shown that by accessing this state of wakeful-resting the person gains a deep sense of relaxation, relief from stress and it also provides insight into our life.

So let’s all do ourselves a favor this week and find some time to “pull the arrow back” so to speak. Close your eyes, rest in the silence, in the wakefully-rested state. Know that you are gaining potential momentum for the rest of your day. When you are ready to come out of meditation don’t forget to take a few minutes to allow the mind to transition from the deep state of rest to the state of activity. This is an important step. Allow the mind to wander for a few minutes. When you are ready to take on the day know that you have pulled back your arrow and set your sights. Now it’s time for action!

Have fun and make it a great day!

Stephen Cardinal

“It’s time for me”

In this hustle-bustle busy world we live in today where we are connected to everyone via cellphones, social networks, and 24-hour news channels it is rare that we find someone that says, “Hey, it looks like you could use a little break.” It is usually quite the contrary! This world of ours wants more for less from all of us and I am here to say that maybe, just maybe we need to step up and say, “I require some good old me time today!” Besides, you are the only person that can give this gift to yourself, because no one else will. We ourselves expect more and more of ourselves each year with the added New Year’s Resolutions on top of personal goals and promises we make to ourselves throughout the year.

I can tell you that from living and traveling in many different places over the years I have learned that the benefits of so called “me time” is one of the best things we can give to ourselves. Over the years of my personal research in this field I have found that one of the best ways to really get a good dose of relaxing “me time” is with a simple technique of meditation. I know meditation can be foreign to a lot of us, but if you take some time to explore it you will be all the more better off, but don’t just take my word for it, the proof is in experience itself.

If you have not learned a formal technique my suggestion is find a comfortable seat, close your eyes, and simply pay attention to your breath. To start out take three slow deep breathes. Now, simply allow breathing to happen. Notice that it goes in and out without any effort on your part. It just....happens.

Our mind is an active creature so naturally it will want to wonder off on a number of tangents, and that’s ok, it’s doing it’s thing, now you do your’s and gently bring your mind back to observing your breath. Don’t mind the noise outside, watch your breath. Don’t mind the time, watch the breath. Inhale....exhale....

After you feel you have spent enough time in this relaxed state, introduce the thought to yourself that, “I am planning to get up.” Take a few minutes to stop watching the breath and allow your mind to wonder again. Let it go wild! After a few minutes have gone by peek open your eyes and if you feel the light to be too much, keep your eyes closed for a minute more and then try it again.

The most important part is to be easy with yourself. The rest of the world will be waiting to get more and more out of you, so you take the time you need to transition from that place inner calm to the world of go go go!!

Have a good time and make it a great day.

Stephen Cardinal