Tripping Over Joy

I am "In Love". What I mean by this is I am immersed in a feeling state of overwhelming Awareness of Grace. And while I am experiencing that particularly strongly right now, whether or not I feel it actually has no bearing on its accessibility.

Does that make any sense at all?

I believe the normal state of humans is to be at Peace. This doesn't mean there will be no pain or problems or issues or challenges--but it means that Grace is available--dare I say Abundant Grace--although that's almost gilding the lily--at all times. If I am not tapping into it, it is likely because I have stepped out of awareness or I'm allowing the reptilian brain to take over.

In my role as a nurse practitioner at The Coleman Institute I do a monthly workshop. Recently we broached the subject of the reptilian brain, the oldest part of our brain, first appearing in the earliest vertebrates, the reptiles.
This neural structure, deep in the center of our head, wrapped around our brain stem is responsible for broadcasting all the fight or flight data. We have survived as a species today because that part of our brain has warned us about saber-toothed tiger attacks and driven us to always find plenty of food, water and shelter allowing the species to procreate.

I haven't been chased by a saber toothed tiger lately and luckily I am able to pay my water bills and buy groceries, but humans evolve slowly and that old reptilian brain o' mine is always scanning the environment for danger.

It perceives danger and sends out chemicals to my brain as if I'm being attacked by a predator or as if I am lacking in basic survival needs. The fear responses in me and other humans of the 21st century are provoked now by concerns about money, health, jobs, politics, relationships--often in the overwhelming presence of pure abundance.

This fear response can trigger amazing thought structures to form: phenomenal complex concerns about bleak futures and paranoid musings about worst-case scenarios. These thoughts in turn gig our stress hormones to jump to action and because of the way the brain is wired, it is virtually compelled to gather supporting evidence.

It is not always easy to avoid becoming entangled in these intricate fear webs. Here are three strategies I have found that are extremely effective, and which I teach my clients who come for Accelerated Opiate Detox and substance abuse issues.

The first is Be Your Breath. Awareness of our breath keeps us present--period. Techniques for breath-work abound, and my favorite breathing gurus are Dr. Andrew Weill and Jon Kabat-Zinn. Check out their many resources.

The second: Gravitate to Gratitude. According to Dan Baker, Ph.D in What Happy People Know, "It is a fact of neurology that the brain cannot be in a state of appreciation and a state of fear at the same time. The two states may alternate, but are mutually exclusive." If you are struggling to find anything at this moment to appreciate, you don't have to look far: look at your amazing hands, taste your coffee, feel the warm sun, smell the honeysuckle on a humid summer morning, listen to the laughter of a child... Face it--you're surrounded!

Finally, Become the Observer of your Thoughts. Stepping back and realizing that you are a person having thoughts, but you are NOT your thoughts is a profound realization. Viewing the thoughts that cause you angst and compassionately acknowledging them like a mother lovingly observing her child examining an object, can move you away from a fear-driven perspective.

The 14th century poet, Hafiz writes:

"What is the difference
Between your Existence
And that of a Saint?

The Saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God
And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move
That the Saint is now continually
Tripping over joy
And Bursting out in Laughter
And saying, "I Surrender!"

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves."

My intention for today? To Trip Over Joy.