The Limits of Meditation

Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session we're going to talk about the limitations of personal growth in isolation. Let me start by saying I've built my work on the importance of developing a relationship with oneself and the role of stillness and solitude in creating that relationship. There are certain things about ourselves that we simply can't see until we disconnect from the noise and stimulation around us, allowing us to self-resp, self reflect and observe our internal experience. I hold this to be a fundamental part of personal growth and it continues to be one for me.

And I also believe there's only so much you can learn about yourself in isolation. As social beings, there are parts of us that will only emerge and be healed through relationship. Thus, a comprehensive path toward personal growth and the integration of mindfulness into your life must include time alone and time with others. So as you continue your journey, continue to practice bringing the tools you learn in solitude, such as meditation into your relationships. In fact, you can practice making real life scenarios, meditations themselves.

For instance, when you're having a conversation with someone and it's triggering, notice how you feel and want to respond. Notice what it's like to, to stay present to that experience without immediately turning away. Notice what it's like to feel the need for a boundary and practice voicing that boundary in the relationship. All of this is the practice of following and responding to the moment to moment pulse of truth moving through you. There's a lot to be said for how to bring this work into our day, our daily lives, especially our relationships, but the main takeaway for today is that we need to make sure we view all dimensions of life as opportunities for learning, healing and growth, not just the time on the cushion.

So thank you for your practice and let's settle in for today's meditation.