The monster

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Peter
Site Admin
Posts: 696
Practice Mindfulness Since: 19 Aug 2013
Location: The Netherlands

Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:44 pm  

Yesterday I thought of something that I thought might be nice to share. When I just picked up mindfulness I read a book called Search inside yourself by Chade-Meng Tan. I was quoting this poem from it to a friend:

My monsters come in different shapes and sizes.
Over the years, I have learned to deal with them.
I do that by letting go.

First, I let go of my wish to suppress them.
When they arrive, I acknowledge them.
I let them be.

Next, I let go of my instinct to vilify them.
I seek to understand them.

I see them for who they are.
They are merely creations of my body and mind.
I humor them a little.
I joke with them.
I joke about them.
I let them play.

Then, I let go of my desire to feed them.
They may play here all they want.
But they get no food from me.
They are free to stay here hungry, if they want.
I continue to let them be.
Then they get really hungry.
And sometimes they leave.

Finally, I let go of my desire to hold on to them.
They are free to leave as they wish.
I let them go.
I am free.
For now.

I do not overcome them.
They do not overcome me.
And we live together.
In harmony.


I remember my friend saying sarcastically: "Yeah, right! Wouldn't that be nice.."
I agreed with him. It seemed like some sort of super power, that we both believed to be forever impossible for us.

However, yesterday I realized that I can do this now with ease.

And I didn't do anything special. I Just kept on practicing mindfulness, and meditating in general. My friend is still struggling every day with depression and anxiety. He gave up mindfulness very quickly.

Peter

JonW
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Posts: 2897
Practice Mindfulness Since: 08 Dec 2012
Location: In a field, somewhere

Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:03 pm  

Wonderful post, Peter. Cuts right to the quick.
Cheers,
Jon, Hove
Jon leads the Everyday Mindfulness group meditation on Zoom every Monday/Friday, 6pm London-time. FREE.
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MindfulnessJar
Posts: 18
Location: UK
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Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:43 pm  

Thanks for sharing the poem. It is very apt.

Funnily enough, I taught one of my children about mindfulness by explaining that anger is like a monster inside of him that grows when you feed it angry thoughts.

It is wonderful that you stuck with your mindful practice and have benefited from it :)

Vicky

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miracle_0617
Posts: 10
Practice Mindfulness Since: 0- 0-2012

Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:31 am  

I love the monster analogy, Peter. Thank you for this - your experience with depression and anxiety lifting is especially encouraging.
"Life isn't as serious as the mind makes it out to be." -Eckhart Tolle ;)

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Peter
Site Admin
Posts: 696
Practice Mindfulness Since: 19 Aug 2013
Location: The Netherlands

Thu Feb 18, 2016 9:35 am  

Thanks Jon, Vicky and Charlotte!!

Peter

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Gareth
Site Admin
Posts: 1465

Thu Feb 18, 2016 11:15 am  

MindfulnessJar wrote:anger is like a monster inside of him that grows when you feed it angry thoughts.


I love that way of putting it. You'll see it coming soon from @mindfuleveryday.

Great poem too, Peter.

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Happyogababe
Posts: 250
Practice Mindfulness Since: 01 Jan 2008

Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:26 pm  

Thanks for sharing, I felt calmer just by reading it.
'You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf' Jon Kabat Zinn

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