Deep within us all, away from our public veneer, lies the essence of who we really are - the person we are for ourselves.  Not the mother of our children or the partner at the firm or the homie to the guys in the barbershop; but the spirit in our skin that drives it all.  Yet, we often choose the kinds of goals that make other people happy.  Bend this way for this one and that way for that one.  We shove ourselves into one corner after another to win approval, and then freak out when we realize that we’ve lost ourselves in the process.  Our minds are filled with the same old thoughts about everything from the Central Hudson bill to what other people feel about us, leaving very little room for thoughts of growth, love and joy, pushing us away from an enriching and empowering sense of self.

So, it is really important to rise above the noise in your head and create a comfortable space for new thoughts like solutions and success.  Meditation is one way to quiet the noise in our minds.  Nothing fancy, no levitation, no large animal sacrifice; just giving your mind a break from the noise by allowing yourself to be still.  In Viveka Chudamani, an ancient Indian scripture, it is written:  ”Here within the heart, the self shines in its captivating splendor like the noonday sun.”  Jesus Christ said, “The kingdom of God is within you.”  We meditate in order to be able to access that space, that kingdom within our heart and to unfold our inner being.  From that place inside of us, we can move mountains, get in shape, have a great career and realize all of our ambitions.

To begin, sit on the floor in a comfortable cross-legged position.  Straighten your back and lift your chin.  Close your eyes and breathe gently into your body through your nose and out through your mouth.  Your mind will probably be distracted by all kinds of thoughts.  Don’t fight them; witness them and allow them to go.  After a time, you will be able to sit quietly for 30 minutes at a time.  As the gap between thoughts widens, the space for creativity increases.  It takes patience, but it will get easier.  Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, a great spiritual teacher, and the S.Y.D.A. Foundation have produced an inspiring audio tape which has been extremely helpful to my clients and myself in the practice of meditation.  You can find it at most major bookstores that carry audio tapes or call the very helpful people at the S.Y.D.A. Foundation at (212) 873-8030.

We experience a lot of things in our lives.  If we spend our time forming an opinion about every crack in the sidewalk or loud person in the subway, we crowd out space for magic.  There is a prayer in A Course for Miracles that states, “Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs.”  The practice of non-judgement allows you to create space in your mind.

A lifetime of negative programming can bury a great talent, but, born into a poor society with impaired vision, respiratory issues and one leg much shorter than the other, a child can grow up to be Bruce Lee if he is taught, and then chooses to think, positively about himself, focusing on his strength instead of his weakness.

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Michael Sullivan is a Personal Fitness Trainer and owns Hudson Valley Muscles. He can be contacted at (845) 541- 0371.