Having a Quiet Mind....

So, I am still reading, "Eat, Pray, Love"....don't worry, I am finally on the final section (just started today)...but throughout the India portion what really stuck out to me was the thought of having a quiet mind and being able to control your thoughts. Now during this portion she travels to India and works with a Guru on meditation, etc. And during this section she finds her god, but for me, I took away from it some aspects that echoed to me and they are as follows.....

A portion of the book says, " But I don't (have a quiet mind), nor does Sean. Many of us don't. Many of us look into the fire and see only inferno. I need to actively learn how to do what Sean's father, it seems, was born knowing how to............Instead of being amused, though, I'm only anxious. Instead of watching, I'm always probing and interfering. The other day in prayer I said to God, 'Look-I understand that an unexamined life is not worth living, but do you think I could someday have an unexamined lunch?'"

Oh boy did this stand out to me......my mind is constantly stirring...constantly thinking....constantly feeling..... Sometimes I just wish my mind could be at rest and RELAX. I don't want to think about what I need to do 2 hours from now.....or worry about crazy things in the future. I truly wish I could have a quiet mind...... Oh how refreshing that would be....

Another portion of the book talks about controlling your thoughts, very similar to what was being discussed above. The book says as follows, "On first glance, this seems a nearly impossible task. Control your thoughts? Instead of the other way around? But imagine if you could? This is not about repression or denial. Repression and denial set up an elaborate game to pretend that negative thoughts and feelings are not occurring. What Richard is talking about instead is admitting to the existence of negative thoughts, understanding where they came from and why they arrived and then--with great forgiveness and fortitude--dismissing them. "

Coming from a person that struggles with anxiety.....this seems like pure *heaven* and bliss!! Oh how much easier life could be for me if I could have a quiet mind and control my thoughts. But oh no.....my thoughts constantly control me....and MY emotions!! Ughhh....an uphill battle....

I don't have anything profound to add.....just wanted to share a little portion of this section of the book...the India section.

But I do completely resonate with her sentence.....'Look-I understand that an unexamined life is not worth living, but do you think I could someday have an unexamined lunch?' I would love to have one day where I could entirely relax......and not be constantly thinking and analyzing....and feeling....so deeply. ;-)