I was young when I learned that I am the gatekeeper at the door of my own mind. I decided that I’m going to entertain thoughts that are of a good feeling nature. If it doesn’t fit with me, I can’t go there with you. Sometimes people mistake that as lacking compassion. I consider it self-preservation. As time went on I began to forget that decision. Foundational programming began to reappear and I forgot my worthiness. Instead of relaxing and knowing my well-being, I realized I was in a state of constantly trying to figure things out. That is an endless swirling endeavor. Everyone has an opinion and most share it unsolicited trying to be helpful. We can live a whole lifetime in that mode, trying to abide by what this one says and what that one believes. That is what it means to watch your life pass you by. When once again I drew the line and decided to stop putting so much stock into other’s well-meaning demands and realities my life began to stabilize. Meditating really helped with that. I remembered that if anything feels off, it will no longer be included in my personal fairyland.

After meditating for a time the rat race slowed down. Incremental mindfulness started taking its place and became more apparent. I now have the capacity to start seeing my own life and to decide for myself. This is what is meant by being in the present moment, being in ‘now’. I started to pick and choose only those theories that made most sense to me. Mindfulness lets me do so on a day by day, minute by minute basis. Only that which positively supports and encourages me is allowed past the door of my mind. It must feel good to me or at least feel better than the alternative. Information has to resonate in a joyful way. The phrase ‘infinite possibility’ has a much different connotation. Now I realize that the world is my oyster and I don’t have to know what all those infinite possibilities are before I can start enjoying myself. I put down the books and selected just a few of the multitude of ideas and guidelines that I had saturated myself with. I simplified. And, life is much easier.

It’s not what people say that matters.

It’s what people convey that matters.

We used to live in a world of 9 planets.

Now we know of the folly of that count.

Feel the graciousness of our infinite world.

Awareness of entire galaxies continues to mount.

We used to live in a world of 5 senses.

Now we know of 6 and more.

Let yourself b r e a t h e and dissolve all the fences.

Meditation is key to opening the door.

‘The mind can be compared to good fertile farmland. The land has no preference as to what is planted in it. Whatever is planted grows in abundance. The mind is far more fertile and works exactly the same way. It will return anything we plant, success, failure, confusion or a worthwhile goal.’

I’ve been enjoying the benefits of my meditation practice. The former habits of my thought process are transformed. I’m peaceful, am lighter and happier, more with each day. Conditions are changed because of the way my instrument resonates in mindfulness. All the theories and science and dogma that regurgitates throughout our upset world seem not to faze me as it once had. It is no longer a part of my personal dynamic because I choose it so. I’m not apathetic or indifferent. I just know better.

We are infants in our humanness, just now discovering our belly buttons. We’re beginning to gain balance and taking our first steps. It’s not time that determines our progress but the phase in which we are in. We are getting wiser and wiser as each new generation appears. Through meditation we can understand that the ease of mindfulness is where it’s at. Where we once had been trained into rolling back our eyes in fruitless effort, struggle and conformity, meditation allows us to remember that we have control.

In our humanness, we are meant to be free. We are meant to feel good. That’s not to say we don’t get bounced around while we’re here. That is the whole reason we decided to be human. We are phasing into the age of remembering that meditating is like breathing. Meditation makes the trip easier and more joyful. Once we understand that fear and crisis need not apply, we are free.  Cultivate your interests. Decide for yourself what you wish to plant in your mind garden. It’s only natural.