Choosing the path that allows you to become the absolute best version of yourself isn’t always easy in the short term, but in the long run it rewards you with huge dividends. When you begin to realize how profoundly your everyday actions influence those people around you (and vice versa) it can begin to seem more like a moral obligation to be as smart, self-aware, and compassionate as you’re capable of.
You may not realize it but each one of us have great power. Each time you interact with someone you leave them with a subset of residual feelings. These feelings have the power to change the emotional state of that person. This interaction can be as complex as an hours-long conversation or as simple as a five second interaction with a cashier at a gas station. A very useful question to ask yourself is...
Are you leaving the people you interact with in a better or a worse state than before they met you?
For example, think about that last innocent mistake you made while behind the wheel in traffic. It could have been cutting someone else off who was in your blindspot, failing to use a turn signal, etc. We’ve all made those absentminded mistakes that have sparked a fit of road rage from another driver. Although you didn’t mean to cut them off (or whatever else it was you did) their beeping, yelling, and/or cursing probably ruined part of your day.
To make matters worse, this road rager’s temper tantrum will even start a chain reaction...if you let it.
You may decide to retaliate, escalating the situation further or it might make you treat someone else badly at a later point in the day. Not only is this is horrible for your own emotional and physical health but it has the potential to be bad for everyone else you come in contact with afterwards.
The important thing to remember is how we react to these kinds of situations is also very much a choice. Whenever we choose the path of retaliation to this kind of impulsive nonsense we perpetuate it. We also unwillingly give your power away to someone else. By doing so we allow complete strangers to hack our emotions and completely change our state of being.
One of the amazing side-effects of meditation is it allows us to become more introspective instead of just impulsively reacting to what unfolds in our environment. It’s a lot like installing virus protection software in your brain that offers us a layer of protection from these “hackers” who are trying to manipulate us for their own goals or amusement.
Meditation also provides us with another very valuable feature, a pause button. Once you become mindful, through the practice of meditation, you tend to not instinctively react to situations based on emotion. Instead you give yourself the cushion of a few seconds to analyze a situation before deciding how you're going to react. Sometimes a few seconds make a difference between just going about your day peacefully or making a mistake that could alter the course of your entire life.
Once you begin to see the world from this introspective angle you will see that a lot of things start to look different. Becoming conscious of your reactions will make you feel as though a thick fog has lifted, you’ll be able to see both yourself and the world around you in a more honest light.
You'll start to recognize your own deficiencies/weaknesses and will be able to begin to actively work on them. You’ll reclaim your personal power and this will set you on a path of self-directed evolution that will change your life more than you could possibly imagine.
This is how we change the world for the better, one person at a time. It all begins with us.
Affirmations
Find a quiet place that will be free from distractions. Sit upright in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed and concentrate on your breath for a count of thirty...to breathe properly for meditation just remember,
- Inhale through your nose for a count of five (sniff the flower),
- hold the breath for a count of 5 (pause),
- exhale from your mouth for a count of 7 (blow out the candle).
Now think about a situation you’ve experienced in the past where you’ve lost your temper and greatly regret it. Revisit that memory, with closed eyes. Imagine yourself reacting in a different and more positive way. Think about how much better of an outcome you would have experienced.
With closed eyes repeat the following affirmations three times each.
After you these affirmations it’s helpful to linger in the serenity for a few minutes -- focus on your happiness, health, and overall well-being.
Did you miss previous installments of the Mindful Moments Series? If so, you can find them here:
1 - Two Week Media Fast;
2 - Worry and Fear;
3 - Setting Boundaries, ;
4 - Self Care.;
5 - Listening To Understand;
6 - How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything;
7 - You Are What You Think; and
8 - Law of Attraction
I wish you all a peaceful and healthy week!
In Gratitude,
~ Eric Vance Walton ~
*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.
Alarm Clock Dawn, one of the first full length novels published on the blockchain, and the book that started it all for me can be found HERE. Or Click Here to read it for free on the Steemit blockchain
My meditation book, The Perfect Pause, is priced at $12.99 (paperback) and $4.99 (eBook). Buy the paperback and receive the eBook for free!
Hello Eric ... how are u doing? I haven't opened your page in a long time. That's because I'm busy lately. Luckily I saw your facebook page about your hive posts so I can immediately open your hive page. I also like meditation. It makes me calm. I don't like noisy and noisy atmosphere, which can make me a headache. I like the quiet atmosphere where I can contemplate all my actions. I think emotional control is very necessary in a crowded atmosphere. I hope you enjoy your great day, my friend. Regards.
Hi Eliana! We're maintaining here. It's the 70th day of quarantine for us. I hope you and your family are all good! Thanks.
This should be respected by everyone, meet with someone with a smile and if that person has some concern, you should sort it out in a way that both parties will be in a better state. It's not only the person will be in a worse state, you can be after meeting that person.
I've been so busy fighting with our insurers and our government in between posting that I totally missed this wonderful post of yours Eric! It's so very true what you said about how an impulsive reaction to a situation can alter the course of our life!
Thank you for this!
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that! I'm glad you found some value in the post! I'm only one more chapter away from my next book. I'm going to expand on these Mindful Moments posts create the sequel to The Perfect Pause.
That's wonderful!
One of the best piece of content i read in early morning. Indeed transforming from weak to strong version takes time. It not gonna to happen within nights or weeks. It's a long term game takes immense time. I myself is psychology student. I'm Bringing a lot of self improvement in my life by implementing psychology in life.
thank you for such a informative article. Looking forward to learn more from you
Thanks @rasibch!
Great post, you can say the best in recent times that I read. That's really power.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Beautifully written my friend, you revealed a whole lot about mediation and honestly you touched on all angles. Life alone is a distraction itself and sometimes we need to go back to the drawing board, restore factory setting and well confess positivities and come back better people, meditation can help us a lot with this.
Thank you @josediccus. I've seen so many situations in life spiral out of control because of emotional responses sparked in the heat of the moment. One second can make the difference between life and death, freedom or a prison cell.
Excellent post dear friend @ericvancewalton invites a great reflection
I am involuntarily doing things, I have made many mistakes in my life, however, if someone makes me see it I do not react badly, quite the contrary. I am to apologize.
But if another person makes a mistake with me, I am very impulsive and that must change.
Meditation is something I must try, I have never done it in my life
Excellent tips I will put it into practice. Thanks a lot
I wish you a great night
Hi @jlufer! I think we are all guilty of doing this but once you're conscious of it you can reclaim your power. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great evening!
This post meets me where I am.. I practice awarness as often as possible... Before bed every night I think about my day and if my behaviors were congruent with my values and who I aspire to be.. Sometimes yes and sometimes No.. I often have a chance to make ammends to those I have not treated properly but sometimes the best I can do is to not repeat the behavior. Awarness is the key. Constant practice is necessary. I find that if you dont use it, you lose it.....That saying can be applied to many things..
The practice of contemplating your day will serve you well in life! I also used to keep a dream journal. I'd write down my dreams right after I woke up because usually a few minutes after waking you forget details. It was very interesting. It taught me a lot. Thanks for the comment!
With a strong determination from my heart, I hope to guide my power in order to avoid it not giving it away.
This really open my eyes to many things you know
Thanks for the comment and the support!
I always find it surprising how sometimes I can react one way to a certain situation and then other times I react a totally different way. Traffic as you mentioned is one of the key ones. I don't know why I am not able to have a steady patience level every time I am driving. It seems to be the most important time you would want to have it.
Traffic is the a real test for me too. I still sometimes lose my temper. People are so distracted by their phones these days. I can't wait until full auto drive is rolled out and in use by most people then they can look at their phones all they want.
For sure. I find that my wife and I have a pretty good balance when we are riding together. It is usually one of us that is the frustrated one and the other person is the voice of reason!
It's the same way with us. Thank God. ; )
my power is with me