The Next Level

I think I am going to the next level of something, but I don't know what. I'm 8 days into eating without distraction thanks to Geneen Roth's book 'Women Food and God.' I do so appreciate her studying the work of Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle and writing my book for me..he he. I am also on day two of meditating (3 min - 5 min). These are such accomplishments for me because I have been aware of the benefits of both for many years and wasn't willing to pay any heed to the advice. It is said that you will only change your behavior when you learn something that convinces you to change or you because you are in so much pain that you are compelled to change. So nice to have these changes be because of the former, rather than the later!

The nugget of information that tipped my scales on the meditation practice was one line from the book 'Conversations with the Dalai Lama' by Paul Eckman, a scientist who has studied human emotion and facial expressions. It stated that the reason meditation is so helpful is because focusing on something involuntary, like the breath, serves to expand the space between perceived stimuli and emotional reactions. Now here is a concept I can understand, SPACE! The value and the serenity of more physical space has been improving my life for almost ten years now and it is time to take this to the next level.