Many years ago I learnt (actually I lie, I’m still learning) to kayak on rivers.
Rivers are wild things. They’re a bit like life, really.
Philosophical metaphor stretching bit coming up …
They can look innocent yet carry hidden dangers, like rocks and trees.
(Trees and rivers are not good when you add a kayak to the mix - see, water goes through trees, kayaks and people don't)
Or they can look outrageous and big and noisy, but really when you get in there it’s nothing but fluffy and bouncy and fun.
But the key thing I learnt in my kayak is that you have to look where you want to go.
If you look at the thing you want to avoid - which seems very sensible…
…but really not so sensible cos it takes you directly to that thing as if it was magnetic.
Now I hit a lot of rocks simply through trying to avoid them.
It’s about as much fun as it sounds.
And then someone pointed out to me to learn to focus on where I want to go, to the exclusion of everything else.
It changed everything for me - all of a sudden kayaking got simpler.
And I would say the same rule applies true for life, and for meditation.
What you focus on, grows.
If you’re focussing on all the thoughts you’ve got, or all the things you have to do, or what could go wrong …
Then that grows.
If you focus on this precise moment in time, then this grows.
If you focus on what is good in your life, that grows.
If you focus on exactly where you want to go, you end up going that way.
Does that make sense?
Learn to focus on what you want, and ignore everything else.
Best way forward ever.
So kayaking can teach you how to meditate, and meditation can teach you how to kayak, or mountain bike, or ski/snowboard or motorbike or live...
That’s the whole purpose of meditation - to learn to develop choice, to focus on what you want.
It’s not a harsh violent focus, more a gentle definite persistence to return time and time again.
Want help with that?
Ishayas’ Ascension meditation course. Simple, powerful, relaxing tools that meditate for you:
Watch out for dem rocks!
- Arjuna