How we engage with ourselves reflects how we engage truthfully with the practices of well being and connection.
Offering this prompt, this piece forms part of a two part series in exploring our three heart minds (taken from the Zen philosophies) together with the most recent findings from neuroscience in cultivating ‘dispositional optimism’.
A seed sown from a recent gathering l attended at the Upaya Zen Centre on the practices for gratitude and generosity.
Interestingly, in observing myself prior to joining, l noticed my ego whispering it’s thoughts in my ear… hmm what can this discussion give me that l don’t already know! Can l be bothered to attend as l’ve been a fan of manifestation for a while. However, after the hour and a half l came away with a completely different understanding and a changed perspective on gratitude and generosity and their connection to manifestation.
Unfolding with stories from others, l began to recognise how gratitude can enable us to maintain a healthy disposition in the mind. As we continued our discussion we also looked at the challenges of embracing gratitude especially when things are not going quite so well life. In other words when we are faced with traumatic or impossible situations, how can we be grateful then?
Navigating the roller coaster of life’s landscape can be a challenge but perhaps our superpower lays in the ability to find balance and acceptance between the positive and negative. Taking the middle path, taking equal time in both can foster the attitude of staying open and accepting (not always easy l know!). However, Psychologist Susan David author of Emotional Agility, believes it’s fundamental to our mental well being to master this skill/attitude.
Scientific research has hinted that practices and attitudes that harness this kind of mindset referred to lately as ‘dispositional optimism’ has the power not only to improve overall mental well being but also protects your heart health too.
We often talk a lot about our brains and minds but often forget to consider how our hearts fair in navigating the balance.
Manifestation does it exist?
Whether you believe in manifestation or not, l guess it all really comes down to your understanding and perception of it. In our current world you wouldn’t be out of place for wishing for better times.
Recently, l’ve been reading some interesting concepts taken from the latest neuroscience research on cultivating habits around expecting good things/outcomes. As a long time practitioner of both eastern and western science and philosophies, l’m extremely curious on how our minds and hearts can rewrite our narratives.
So what does the science say?
Recent findings tend to indicate that manifestation as we have come to now it in the present climate does not really exist. However, our ability to make a regular practice of connecting with what we want to bring forth, feeling it, talking it and visualising it can in actual fact elicit a certain chemistry neurologically as well as emotionally, making our vision more likely to occur. A key factor however, is this ability to stay buoyant with what is, that balance of walking the middle path.
Nonetheless a trap of manifestation is that we can sometimes be so focused on the results we want to achieve that we lose that feeling that things will work out!
Manifesting from the Eastern
When we lean into some of the teachings from the east we are reminded of the powerful influence of how the heart and mind working together shape our experiences. Rather than focus on material gain something that western manifestation is known for, the eastern teachings advise us to know yourself first so that you may come into alignment with your visions.
Neuroplasticity in Manifesting
In spending time getting to know and work on yourself, you are already changing the neuroplasticity of your brain. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that ongoing personal development and being a life long student is so important for us. Leading us to continually explore and revisit our patterns of behaviour/habits facilitating healing where needed and in the process making us more available.
Dr James Doty research findings suggest that ‘adaption, repetition and intention are all key players when it comes to the brain forming new pathways/circuits and being able to banish old habits and thinking that no longer serves us. In doing this we can create more grey matter in the areas of the brain that enables learning, performing and manifesting.
He goes on to highlight how attention and awareness are the two key elements that are equally important to manifest consciously. As manifesting without proper care and attention can lead to unsuccessful outcomes. Practices of mindfulness which cultivate these two superpowers can help us successfully lay and embed the foundations in our subconscious mind of what we would like to see/have.
In other words nourishing our reality still that does not mean that everything you envision will come to you but thats ok, theres always normally a reason that reveals itself somewhere along the path.
I wanted to share some extracts from Roshi Joan Halifax PhD, Buddhist teacher and Head Teacher of Upaya Zen Center in New Mexico from our gathering, as well as some of my own words to nourish your heart as well as your mind.
Deepening the Heart, Gratitude and Manifestation practice
Take a comfortable seat, place your hands in cosmic mudra or hands on heart.
Start to welcome a deeper awareness to your breath and invite your heart to be easy, that which has supported you so far in life.
Take a moment to feel your precious heart and its unique vibration.
As you do so you cultivate a greater availability to connect to all things, all beings.
Now repeat/affirm the following:
May l be grateful for this life whatever has been given to me, it has been given.
May l be grateful for those in my life, old, new and indifferent.
May l be grateful for those lessons that have been given to me hard, scary, happy and sad.
May l be grateful for the gift of this day.
May l be grateful that l have the heart, mind and body to serve.
Now feel what a generous heart and mind gives us and others.
Know that gratitude and generosity are siblings of each other.
Give life to life, don’t be driven by fear, hate, jealousy and preferences.
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