Space Between the Notes - Creating Inner Space through Awareness

I consider the practice of self observation to be a fundamental starting point when establishing a healthier relationship to ourselves. This process of receptive awareness, which can be found in many meditation practices, is a bit like like slowing down the speed dial on a record player. By slowing the speed, there comes a point where it is possible to clearly hear each note. Then to slow a little more, it becomes possible to hear the space between the notes.

Imagine doing this with your mind. Slowing the mind, first to hear the individual thoughts as they arise. Then to hear the space between the thoughts.

Why is this practice helpful?

It illuminates something of the nature of our inner experiences. The arising of a thought, or patterning of thoughts, and links to emotional and behavioral reactions. Over time, and with commitment to this practice, we may begin notice particular patterns operating within us. Grooves of thought that we get stuck into, that take us down a particular route. For example, noticing how the presence of a thought loops, cascades, and activates other thoughts, often pulling in a complex mix of emotions and physical sensations. To notice this, without judgement, almost like watching a movie as it unfolds within us, is nothing short of incredible. We begin to see something of the subtlety, interconnectedness and power of our inner movements.

As we become more proficient in this practice of receptive awareness, we begin to become familiar with ourselves and to develop a capacity to stay with ourselves. We are looping and riding with our thoughts and emotions as normal, only now we are doing this with awareness. We can watch as these movements unfold, and then at some point in this process, we begin to sense the emergence of space.

Like the record player slowing, and the opening of time, space opens within us. We are able to catch ourselves as we are moving into a pattern. At this moment, we are presented with a CHOICE. We can choose to carry on as normal, or to carve a new path of inner activity. A path which takes us into a calmer and less reactive space of being. A path which feels lighter, and where we remain connected to ourselves.

It takes a great amount of energy, commitment and self-kindness to redirect ourselves onto a new path. Imagine a stream running down a mountainside. The path is established, familiar but not set. It is possible to redirect the flow of water, but requires quite some energy and determination to do so.

Once we experience this possibility within ourselves, our relationship to our thoughts and emotions begins to shift. We establish a greater capacity to BE with ourselves, to stand alongside our inner experiences without turning away or shutting down. We begin to truly understand, not as a concept but as a lived experience, that while these experiences are arising within us, are part of us, we are in fact NOT them. We are not our thoughts or emotions.

If this is the case, then what are we?

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