I have a meditation cushion. I used it the other day, and this idea came to me:  That the in between is where we’re seen. Meaning that in a quiet mindset, we can connect with ourselves.

 

 

 

Mediation can calm the mind. I went to a few classes and learned the technique, and it was a regular practice in one of my philosophy classes in college (the professor was very much into it), but I didn’t implement it in my life as a daily practice. According to the article “How to Meditate for Beginners” from the NHS (National Health Service, UK), it is recommended to take 20 minutes to meditate. I can barely imagine sitting still for 20 minutes right now, given all I have to do, but it makes sense that meditating for that long can be beneficial. I’ve only done it for five minutes at home.

Here’s what I know about meditating. It gives us the opportunity to be in the present moment. With no thoughts swirling around our heads other than “breathe in” and “breathe out” while focusing on our breath, we are in the here and now.  In the here and now is where we find the in between, where we are, where we are seen. It’s our core. In the stillness, we can connect to ourselves, our power, and our peace.

Meditating has many benefits, and I hope to take more time to be in the moment.

I have found that we don’t necessarily need to do the “sitting down, breathing in and out thing” to be in the in between where we’re seen.

Here is when we’re in the “in between”:

• Playing with or petting our pets and focusing on them. We’re in the in between because all our guards are down and we’re our authentic selves. We don’t fear any criticism from our pets. They are there to love us unconditionally no matter what. We trust them to love what they see. They see us and still give us love and attention.

 

• Doing something we love to do and are focused on it. Did you ever notice how time goes by when you’re doing something you enjoy, and you can’t figure out how it went by so fast? That’s our mind relaxing, and the release of those good chemicals in our brains helps us feel a sense of peace.

 

• When we look into our eyes in the mirror, look into them. See if you can see yourself. Keep at it. When you’re brushing your teeth, keep eye contact with yourself. Forgive that person you see, like you would a good friend who apologized sincerely and meant it.

 

• While driving alone, and we think of things, instead of thinking worrying thoughts, shift them to abundant thoughts. Like for example, if you had an argument and are upset by it, find three good things about the person and focus on those. This doesn’t mean they are off the hook if they are at fault, but in that moment, you are free of the stress.

 

• Being with or seeing a human baby or another kind of baby. There is something that happens to us when we see a newborn life. We drop our guards and are the true version of ourselves. We could act silly without any care. We make funny faces that we would most likely not do with another adult, or God forbid, a teenager (that would get an eye roll for sure).  But when we see those little, precious new lives, we are filled with happiness. We think they make us happy, but really, our inner self is happy to be free to be seen.

 

You get the gist of where the in-between is. It’s where we’re comfortable being our authentic selves.

Everything that seems so scary loses its power when we face it. If we’re afraid of clowns and constantly remind ourselves that they’re people in makeup and funny clothing, the fear will dissipate. I’m still working on this with spiders and snakes. I do not want to face either one of them! So, I’m okay being scared of those things.

See if you can feel what I’m writing about the next time you pet your cat or dog, or hold your child or grandchild, or when you’re doing something that feels good. Focus on how you feel. We can have that feeling all the time with anyone. We have to be that person we are in the in between and allow ourselves to be seen.

That’s you! The you who’s not afraid to love or take chances. I mean, if animals can believe in us, what’s our problem?

Thank you for reading this, and I hope I’ve offered a nugget of goodness in your life.

To the in between,

Francesca

 

 

Created by a human for humans.

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