Release Judgment to Get More Out of Experiences.

In one of my group meditations someone once told me that she felt like she was new to the practice and hence had a harder time sensing where she was holding energy. After we were no longer in a meditative state, she asked me a question and when I was giving her feedback, I inquired, “Can you feel where you’re holding energy—here and here?”

“Well,” she replied, “I can feel it here. And it’s not that I don’t believe you, but I can’t feel it in the other spot.”

“Close your eyes and focus within.”

She did, and then she said, “Oh, I can feel it now.”

I thanked her for showing everybody that sometimes you may not be able to feel something with your eyes open, but in a deeper state of focus it’s a little bit easier. “It takes practice to increase your awareness and sensitivity,” I added.

Later I learned that she had concluded that she wasn’t “advanced enough” or “evolved enough” for my class. She was comparing herself against other people’s experiences or what they had been able to do, and judging herself for her supposed lack of perception… with all of the insecurity that went with that self-judgment.

To illustrate how this wasn’t about how “experienced” or “advanced” this woman was, in the same group there was someone else who’s extremely gifted, empathetic, and really able to feel things—yet later I learned she would often experience frustration because there’s a part of her that really wants to see the energy rather than just feel it. She was caught in the judgment that seeing energy was better than feeling energy.

The fact of the matter is that wherever we are, and whatever our experience is at any given moment, it is perfect, and anytime we get stuck in comparing ourselves with others, we step out of the magic of the moment. Turning off our judgment (including judging ourselves for our self-judgment) and aligning with out heart, we can then treat everything just as information. That way, our self-doubt and tendency to compare show us where the inner opportunities exist for expansion and personal growth. And with that mindset it’s easier to have a fuller, more appreciative experience and to realize that we’re experiencing not only what is perfect but also what is ideal for us.

Photo credit:   suadoni

Letting Go of Expectations for a Better Meditation

In my last blog I discussed how sometimes we have uncomfortable feelings arise when we first start meditating. But what if you had a fantastic meditation the first time, and then you haven’t been able to replicate it since then?

When working with my clients I’ve found that if people have a powerful healing experience the first time and get in touch with their core essence, they have the expectation of a repeat experience identical to the first one, and this can keep them from experiencing what is presented to them now.

Let’s say yesterday in the midst of a meditation you experienced your connection to Source from a place of light and the light was connected like a beautiful and glistening spider web. Today you try to experience the same thing, and all you’re getting is the visual of a flower.

If you let go of trying to make today’s experience replicate yesterday’s, the flower may in fact bring you feelings that are different but equally intense. You might feel love and transformation in the depths of the flower and realize that flower or glistening light spider web, it’s all God, it’s all Source.

Whenever anyone has the expectation for experience “A,” they might miss experience “B” because “A” might never be meant to be repeated. Each visit within has its own unique potential of possibilities.

The point of all this is: let go of expectations and dive fully into today’s experience, no matter what it is.

Photo credit:   AlicePopkorn