I admittedly have travel anxiety. Okay, okay, I don’t know if that’s the correct medical term for what happens to me, but in the past it was very easy for me to unconsciously cause a bit of a ruckus within the family before we’d leave for a new destination.
Maybe it was the worry that traveling with the family would cause unforeseen delays or unplanned challenges. Whatever the reason, I’d be tense and impatient and the beginning of the trip would be anything but enjoyable for me until we were on the road for a few minutes. Granted, with some patience and maturity these are the things that make road trips so much fun for some people, but I wasn’t one of them.
This past weekend the family and I decided to check out the local farmers market in downtown Gilbert. Before leaving, in an effort to change this pattern, I made a conscious choice to focus on finding things to enjoy. I imagined meeting the local vendors, the fresh organic produce we could juice later and the food trucks we’d get to try. I was truly looking forward to the escapade.
While driving to the market, my wife was shuffling through songs that the kids enjoyed. The bass was thumping, the sun roof was open, and the kids were jamming to all the latest pop sensations. Holding to my earlier choice, I was observing things that lifted my mood. The sky was so amazingly blue with wisps of sparse clouds. The day’s temperature perfect for a jaunt outdoors!
ALL of a SUDDEN it happened, one of the most beautiful moments in my experience. My six year old daughter’s voice rose up to sing along with an acoustic song that had just started playing. She sang softly and pitch perfect throughout the defiant love song. Tears came to my eyes as her little voice and soul touched my heart. It made me appreciate everything as it was in that very moment. I was deeply moved by the experience.
Why do I tell you this? Because this past weekend represented a shift in my perspective. It touched my soul so deeply that I wanted to make sure I passed it on as potential inspiration for you to take steps to avoid allowing your emotional addictions to eclipse what could otherwise be a memorable and precious moment in your life.
You see, science has shown that the chemicals produced in the brain tied to emotional states are AS addictive as heroin. We humans can become highly addicted to fear, anxiety, etc. If you read my first blog post, you’ll know that I recommend spending some time with your intentions. This reflection allows your mind to start generating space, space to observe the thoughts running through your brain and to realize they do not always have to direct your experience.
I am certain that making the commitment to set time aside daily to look inward and meditate is one of the changes I’ve made in my life that allowed me to have this paradigm shifting moment. Meditation is another lesson you will hear in book after book about personal growth, consciousness and spirituality. It is also something I wish I would have started many years ago! I wasn’t ready until recently, are you ready yet?
If you are ready to learn more or would prefer a guided meditation, here are a couple of books I recommend (click to purchase):
Meditation: Achieving Inner Peace and Tranquility In Your Life (Little Books and CDs)
Wherever You Go, There You Are
References: Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine
For your enjoyment, here is the song my daughter was singing from the Eclipse soundtrack:
And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t provide you with a link to purchase the soundtrack…
Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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