Sit. Stay. Heal.

I’ve been adjusting my meditation practice lately. For a while I was exploring - somewhat intentionally and somewhat not - having my practice be comprised of “small moments, many times” as Dr. Judson Brewer would say, rather than one longer sit. Lately, I’ve returned to a 30-minute sit shortly after I wake in the morning. I get about two thirds of the way through my practice and the wheels of my attention get a little wobbly. I find myself climbing aboard a thought train more often and taking it further than at the beginning of my practice.

This afternoon, when I was walking my puppy dog, I realized that about two thirds of the way through the walk, her ability to heel got a little wobbly, too. And it struck me - our minds are just like puppy dogs. They need to be actively trained. Left to their own devices, they will develop unhelpful habits. With consistent training, they will become more effortlessly focused. And, perhaps most importantly, they should be treated with great patience and kindness and a sense of humor.

Each time our attention wanders, we can picture it as a little puppy chasing a chipmunk. We can smile, recognize that it’s doing what minds and puppies do, and then we can gently guide it back to where we want it to be. We may find that the mind tugs at the leash over and over, pulling toward the day’s to-do list, or straining toward that next external thing that the mind tells us will be the key to our happiness…. And with great kindness and patience, we gently but firmly redirect it to the present moment. Over time, we can train our minds to “Sit. Stay. Heal.”

May you find joy and humor in all your endeavors,

Your CMP family