Relaxed Focus Meditation
The idea for this article stems from a poem…
True Self does reveal the path of the Will to the Kingdom within.
Love runs through the Universal Soul to all who choose conditionless joy.
Duty demands the choice of self purification for the materialization of humanity’s true imagination.
Relaxed focus and intentive thought are the conduits for the empowered trinity above.
The cycle of lives completes with realization that I must be sacrificed for the greater.
~Michael Christ
How do we allow ourselves and our children to shine, to really be who we are, to be the full expression of the soul?
Relaxed focus is one way.
Parenting brings with it a host of ideas that may or may not lend to a feeling of relaxation. These same ideas are often the cause for what brings us out of focus, meaning we lose sight of our parenting goals only to feel overwhelmed in the moment.
We are leading the way for our children. It is up to us to bring ourselves and our families into a relaxed focus whenever necessary… and operate from this peaceful place.
It can begin by taking time to choose our focus, and relax into it.
As a parent your focus might be on noticing when your child cooperates, or it might be in enjoying them when they’re upset (even as hard as that may initially be) , or it might be in sitting quietly as you listen within to determine the next moment’s action.
The following exercise will allow you to experience relaxed focus and I invite you to practice it often until it becomes habit.
Relaxed Focus Meditation
*You may want to record this to play until you become familiar with it or read it a couple of times.
Choose a mental focus to bring in a little later.
Sit in an area of your home where there is usually some activity, maybe the living center or even your child’s room. You may want to do this alone while it’s quiet to begin, but definitely take the practice into life so you can integrate the experience and make the most of it. Meditation in seclusion is valuable, but doors open permanently when we take our practice into Life itself.
With your eyes open, bring your attention into your breath as you pointedly feel the inhale and exhale, gentle space in between, and the cycle repeat itself. If this is difficult to do at first with eyes open, close them. Really feel the breath cycle through your body. Notice how it expands beyond the lungs into the belly and beyond.
As you feel into your body and notice how it feels to be sitting also bring your attention into the energy of your body. You can do so first in your hands. If you get distracted at any point simply focus on your breath. Feel the energy in your body, the life that breathes you. You may experience warmth, tingling, or a deeper awareness within your body. Bring your attention slowly up your arms, neck, head, down your chest, abdomen, legs, and feet as you feel your life energy. Rest in wholeness for a few moments.
When you are ready, from this relaxed place bring in your mental focus. Notice how it feels to focus your energy in a positive way, to listen within, and allow your time and being to be used for a purpose you have chosen.
You may visualize the focus, sit quietly, or any other variation that comes to mind. If you are focusing on enjoying your children while they are upset bring an image or situation to mind that would usually be frustrating. Allow the peace you feel right now to envelope the frustration and clear away any ideas that distract you from your chosen focus. Once you are comfortable doing so you can practice this while your children are around, allowing peace to flow from within you to those in your surroundings.
Amy Christine Bush is a mother to three wise ones, spiritual consultant, and writer who thoroughly enjoys assisting parents and adults in freeing themselves from past conditioning to focus here and now in the clarity and peace of the present.