By
Nancy Hall, MA, NCC, LPC
In an effort to take
the “manic” out of “Monday,” this weekly post explores techniques, issues,
latest research, and other thoughts on meditation. Nancy facilitates a weekly
meditation group at The Awakening Center. For more information, contact her at
773.929.6262, extension 17 or nancyhalltac@gmail.com
A former coworker and I used to joke that if The Weather
Channel’s Jim Cantore shows up in your town, it’s time to take cover. He always
seems to be where the weather is the worst—and he loves it. I’m a big fan of
Jim Cantore. He obviously loves, loves, loves his job, which is best depicted
in his “thundersnow” moment.
He could not contain the joy that he felt during the
thundersnow. And how delightful is that. Jim Cantore was fully present and in
the moment. No self-consciousness…no apologies for his response…just Jim
Cantore being, well, vulnerable.
We all have our sources of thundersnow—those experiences
that completely push aside self-doubt and self-judgment. Our thundersnow
moments might be when we connect fully to contentment and inner peace; or they
might be when we fully feel the grief over a lost loved one. But we cannot
experience these moments if we don’t allow ourselves to open to them.
Jim Cantore opened up more than his mind to the thundersnow.
He felt it from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. We can be very
good and isolating our experiences to our thoughts. We cut off our bodies and
our connection to everything becomes blunted.
When you notice an emotion or event, what happens in your
body? What does the experience feel like from head to toe? How do you mute
yourself and what are the consequences of that?
But with mindfulness practice we can begin to connect to our
own thundersnow moment. You deserve moments of unfiltered joy and celebration
too.
Enjoy your practice.
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