‎"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders." Lao Tzu

I read this quote for the first time back in December, and, to say the least, it struck a chord with me. I imagined a giant (the Universe) following every command of a tiny person.

Like most, I am guilty of letting my thoughts get the best of me. One thought leads to the next and the next, and before I know it, I have created a grandiose and meaningless story. Unfortunately, the negative stories are the ones that usually stick -- they churn up an ocean of emotions filled with worry, anxiety and fear about the assumptions of an outcome, the plans of an unknown future, questions of self-worth, and much more.

Doing this 28 Day Challenge is about being just a little bit more free of those thoughts -- the stories that can so easily pull me down.

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My first practice is “The Core Meditation: Breathing.” The practice is fairly simple: focus on your breath. I would describe my meditation practice like the following: Inhale...”Dammit, how do I stay focused?”...Exhale...”What does it mean to focus on your breath?”...Inhale...”How should this feel?”...Exhale...Inhale...[Insert thought] ...Exhale...

Thoughts -- mostly pointless and unexciting -- were running rampant through my mind as I continued to pull myself back -- again and again -- to my breath. As Sharon says, “Our practice is to let go gently and return to focusing on the breath...If you have to let go of distractions and begin again thousands of times, fine. That’s not a roadblock to the practice -- that is the practice. That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.” (pg. 50, Real Happiness) Today’s practice started off with a lot of questioning, shifted to moments of peace, and then finished with dull thoughts.

Predominant Aspect of Meditation: Questioning of how to remain focused
General Emotional State of the Day: Feelings of indifference