Imagine your mind is a dog who is learning how to heel by your side and not pull you anywhere and everywhere.
Imagine taking the role of being the “Alpha” (the leader) creating a sense of safety for your dog (your mind).
This means you give corrective guidance for you mind. You are vigilant with witnessing the mind.
You give the mind a gentle but firm “No” when it's going astray and bring it back to where you want it to walk and what you want it to sniff and chew on.
Imagine being awake and vigilant with your mind as I was with Burrito.
I knew I had to be that responsible with Burrito; otherwise someone could have gotten hurt and we would be in trouble.
If only all of us could feel that responsible with our minds, knowing that they too can bite and get us in trouble if we are not being the “Alpha.”
Our minds can be either great company or make life very challenging.
Remember, you cannot help what thoughts arise but you do have choice on how to respond.
Practice being the “Alpha.“
Bring your mind back to the path that you want to be walking on.
Of course you need to know what that path is.
Be conscious and intentional about where you want to be with yourself and others every day.
Try on waking up each morning and speaking out loud your intention of how you want to live the day.
Embark with a sense of eagerness, committed to being a great guide for your mind.
Please share here ~~in this blog ~~ your experiences so that we can begin to get to know one another and deepen in our Gathering in Community!
This is really great. I live in South Korea, a wonderful country that, unfortunately, can be pretty xenophobic at times. This means that, due to my blonde hair, big hips, and (by Korean standards) mannish height, I am often regarded with suspicion or open hostility. The constant attention, whether positive or negative, sometimes puts me in a contractive space. So, I'm trying to train my "dog" to see those that regard me as the dreaded "other" as part of myself, simply as human beings rather than automatons produced by a different culture. The dog metaphor really helps. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis particular blog was very helpful to me as I have a hard time being the "alpha" with my mind! The mind is so powerful and it takes a lot of practice and many tools to "Shhhh" it sometimes and not overpower us. Thank you for this post on your blog, Devajoy! We need all of the help we can get to work with our minds! XO Marni
ReplyDeleteMe too! I've been keeping recurring anxieties on a short leash this week. Thanks Deva.
DeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteLove it DJ
ReplyDeleteKaren Doyle
Oh, this is so synchronicitous for me! It reinforces the meditation method I'm playing with right now---to observe my mental movements, be they thoughts, images, or feelings, and gently notice but not connect to them, letting them flow away.
ReplyDeleteDarlene Charles