Staying with Uncomfortable Sensations
But focusing on what matters is key
Over the last few days, I have allowed myself to feel unsettled, anxious, and even negative. But directed my focus to what matters to me — getting my work done, exercising, enjoying a cup of tea, and so on.
This is just practice. And I intend to get better with this practice.
Many scientific studies suggest not fighting our thoughts. In fact, thoughts are beyond our control. That is the point: we aren’t our thoughts. Thoughts are chemical reactions that happen because something else has already happened. It reminds me of the practice of Vipassana: to get better at observing the sensations in our body — the good, bad, and everything in between. They come and go. But the focus is clear — to get better at observing.
Likewise, my practice is to get better at simply observing my thoughts and their corresponding sensations. And not to act on them.
Plus one. The second practice, equally important, is to keep directing my focus to what matters at the time, without fighting the incoming thoughts and the sensations I am feeling.
For instance, I felt mentally tired today while working on a project. Along with tiredness came the feeling of inferiority. So, what I did was allow myself to feel tired and inferior while at the same time directing my attention to the healthy practice of conscious breathing and stretching.
Gradually, my feelings changed.
My hope, stemming from both science and faith, is that by allowing myself to feel what happens to me while intentionally directing my focus to constructive things, I evolve into a more conscious being.
