I noticed myself feeling and acting quite irritable and impatient with my children yesterday afternoon. I was watching my own behavior as if I was outside of myself and was wondering, "Hey, what is going on with me right now?! I was so peaceful and happy earlier today and now it has all gone out the window." I was totally feeling triggered, hooked and stressed by the usual realities of life at home with my kids (bickering, rough-housing, noisiness, whining, complaining, etc).
While meditating this morning, the answer really came to me quite strongly--I need my morning practices every day and also need a recharge in the afternoon. I feel my spiritual "battery" recharging when I meditate, journal and do yoga in the morning. Just like our physical bodies need fuel in the form of the food and water we consume, our spiritual bodies need the energy that we generate when we go inside, get quiet and merge body/mind/spirit. I did some yoga yesterday after waking up, but my daughter was up early too and I didn't get to meditate. My battery was low by 2pm, but I didn't realize it. I thought that what was happening outside of me was the problem.
I don't know much about the Muslim religion, but I know that adherents pray five times a day at particular times. This seems like a very important and powerful ritual that gives me a strong appreciation for this faith. I recently saw some Muslim men and teenage boys facing East in a line and praying outdoors one afternoon at Independence Pass. They appeared to be part of a family who were traveling to this popular tourist spot, but they didn't let the fact that they were out in public deter them from maintaining their commitment to their beliefs. That inspires me, truly, to work harder to sustain my spiritual awareness throughout the day with more moments of mindfulness, solitude and reverence, including at least one short, 5-10 minute session of meditation.
While meditating this morning, the answer really came to me quite strongly--I need my morning practices every day and also need a recharge in the afternoon. I feel my spiritual "battery" recharging when I meditate, journal and do yoga in the morning. Just like our physical bodies need fuel in the form of the food and water we consume, our spiritual bodies need the energy that we generate when we go inside, get quiet and merge body/mind/spirit. I did some yoga yesterday after waking up, but my daughter was up early too and I didn't get to meditate. My battery was low by 2pm, but I didn't realize it. I thought that what was happening outside of me was the problem.
I don't know much about the Muslim religion, but I know that adherents pray five times a day at particular times. This seems like a very important and powerful ritual that gives me a strong appreciation for this faith. I recently saw some Muslim men and teenage boys facing East in a line and praying outdoors one afternoon at Independence Pass. They appeared to be part of a family who were traveling to this popular tourist spot, but they didn't let the fact that they were out in public deter them from maintaining their commitment to their beliefs. That inspires me, truly, to work harder to sustain my spiritual awareness throughout the day with more moments of mindfulness, solitude and reverence, including at least one short, 5-10 minute session of meditation.