A conversation with dark notes

Today as we began a new adventure with yoga, I watched as my little guy swayed and breathed rhythmically.

So much of life contains a pulse. We hear so many rhythms at once, don't we? There is our heartbeat, our breath, our animated gestures as we speak, the sounds of cars rolling on the road outside, the cycle of the AC unit, and the thoughts that seem to pop into our awareness uninvited that signal to us an emotion.

Depending on what we focus on, we hear such totally different things about our life at this moment. It reminds me of Bach's counter point melodies. In this style of music we listen to not just one Baroque melody flitting about but another having a conversation with it. It is so much like our own souls daily interacting not just with our internal beliefs but the messages everywhere around us. Do we find ourselves in harmony? If so, what are we in harmony with? It's okay to realize that the melody poking at us most is something that feels painful or rushed or negative. We can feel the feelings without fearing them. How?

First...breathe.

Second...write out positive affirmations.

Third...notice what thoughts seem to detract or distract or even disturb as you focus on this melody of optimism. (Remember that dissonance is just as much a part of music as harmony.)

Fourth...Notice the connecting feelings and beliefs of those ideas that seem to poke at you a bit painfully. If you need to diagram a bit on a page, do so.

Fifth...Write out an alternative belief to the ones that seem to be fueling your angst.

Sixth...Read the affirmations that you began with. And as you feel those niggly negative feelings rise, let yourself feel them through. A good cry actually helps very often. REMEMBER: Feeling it doesn't mean you have to fear it.

And also note that we are not trying to get rid of all your negative thoughts somehow. We can't and shouldn't destroy your most primal survival instinct. We are instead tuning into the harmony we can make with your thriving instincts!

Now the counterpoint is complete. The parts of the music that seem dissonant or less inviting haven't disappeared but rather been integrated into a beautiful musical narration. Smile.