Sitting with Discomfort

Ooops, there it is, that very uncomfortable feeling; it's sneaking up, you can feel it catch in your throat, it makes you quiver a little, the adrenalin starts pumping; you know you're going to freak out if it comes up and you throw yourself into frenzied activity. I'll do a yoga set, you say, I'll run 6000 errands, right now, I'll talk to the woman who drives me totally nuts, for an hour, I'll do anything - not to have to feel this discomfort.

My friend wrote today that she had wanted to do anything to avoid just such a scene, but that she had just "sat" with it. And that made me want to jump for joy! Yes, of course, that is the only way to deal with the anxiety, the dread, the discomfort - sit with it. Sit with it and breathe into it. Feel its shape, its form, feel where it is located. Is it a constriction in your throat? In your thigh? Does it tickle? Sting? What does it feel like? Sit, without discussing it in your mind, sit in silence and simply feel it.

And it will go away.

Really.

It takes some time to learn not to engage the mind over it, but it is entirely possible. The mind seeks to control and control isn't possible in such detail. We can set our sights on something, we can set a goal, we have to take positive action, but then we have to let go, let God. Trying to make every detail work out is what creates that anxiety and discomfort in the first place. It's not worth it.

So next time it pops up. Sit with it, breathe with it until it dissolves and goes away.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2008 Darshan F Jessop