When you notice your brain is bouncing from one thought to the next, or emotions rise up such as anxiety, fear, anger and overwhelm and … do you notice what you do?

For me, I used to distract myself with entertainment or find solice in smoking, alcohol and icecream. For others it was cleaning house, going on a shopping spree, making soup and donuts!

Numbing our stress is a strategy that most of us can relate to. Yet there is an other approach worth considering. Instead of beating ourselves up, can we let the mind be the mind, and begin to explore the stillness and peace below the surface.

When we become aware of our habitual patterns and behaviors to avoid our feelings, it’s often the first step to find our Middle Ground.

Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

Donna Faulds poem inspires me here:

LET THE MIND BE THE MIND

Let the mind be the mind.

behind its restless activity,

just one layer deeper

is stillness, and beneath

even that, is an ocean

of mystery and truth.

Swim in this eternal sea

until you know yourself

to be infinity, and bring

that knwing back into

your day. Why struggle

to be what you are already?

Let the mind be the mind,

but dont bind yourself

to its limited reality.

Trust your experience of

vastness. Trust the truth

that never loses potency

of disappears in fear.

Let the mind be the mind

and identify not with

thought, but silence.

~ Danna Faulds taken from “Limitless New Poems and Other Writings”

Unknown's avatar

Val Boyko is originally from Scotland and came to the United States over 30 years ago. At "Find Your Middle Ground" Val brings together her experience as a life coach, yoga teacher, spiritual explorer and mentor, to inspire awakening to the light and greater understanding within us all. This blog is a place of exploration and discovery as we explore opening our hearts and finding harmony and peace in the highs and lows of life 💛

37 comments on “Let the Mind Be the Mind

  1. Sharon Lawrence's avatar
    Sharon Lawrence

    Thanks Val! Those words resonate and are well-timed for sure.

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Ananda's avatar

    Such a beautiful poem. And a wise introduction. Thank you Val ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Ali Grimshaw's avatar

    Thank you, Val. Wishing you beauty today.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. sloppy buddhist's avatar

    Lovely and thank you Val ☮️🕉💟 sending joy hedy 💫

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Jet Eliot's avatar

    Wonderful to relax into your post, Val, and Donna Faulds’s poem. I espec. like these words she wrote: “Why struggle

    to be what you are already?”

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Infinite Living's avatar

    It is powerful once we realize what our stress responses are and what better choices we can make that help us in the long run. Beautiful post and poem!

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Jim Borden's avatar

    It sounds like I’ve got the first step down, I know what I do when my mind is racing – nothing like watching an episode of King of Queens with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. That’s my escape, my happy place…

    Liked by 1 person

  8. D. Wallace Peach's avatar

    Beautiful, Val. Thank you for this. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. nrhatch's avatar

    When we are feeling overwhelmed, we can dive deep, go within, and take a breather by returning to the still, silent core of our being. Aah . . . that’s where peace resides. Better!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Kellie's avatar

    Beautiful Val 👍❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Karen Lang's avatar

    Love the poem and the message Val 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Shyamini's avatar

    The introduction and the poem picture what I am going through these days.
    Too many thoughts and emotions marrying, leaving me astray.

    Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Patricia Furstenberg's avatar

    Beautiful, Val!
    Wishing you a positive week further 🙂
    Pat

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. AGIBA's avatar

    So beautiful. Thanks for posting 💜😊

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Coffee Novelist's avatar

    I really liked the intention behind “let the mind be the mind’. For me it means not running or hiding from what the mind can bring us. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

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