Need some EXPERT advice

[kmills50]

Hello all, long time reader, first time poster. I have risen my spiritual enlightenment to full blast the last several weeks. However, I have always lived with an open mind and always open to reading material that the average person in my life would not read, or be fearful of reading. I have been reading this site and love the powerful energy I get from the articles and blogs. I have also taken a strong liken to reading Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements Companion book. The last three weeks I have been meditating in the morning and at nite for about 15 minutes. The last three weeks I have had an ability to properly breath and cut the chatter in my head for the great part of the day. My relationship with my wife was AMAZINGLY similar to when we first dated, my work has been HIGHLY enjoyable as I do not sweat the small stuff. I did not stress future endeavors and forgot about the past. I have even changed my eating habits to a more healthy balance.

This week though........has been very bad. I fell as though I have lost that touch I had for the last couple weeks. I can't seem to get it back to the point I was at. Everything has taken a couple of notches down in my life. I have been attempting to getback in the zone by doing my reading and meditating, but I do not feel as though I am making that turn.

Has others been through this before and how did you get yourself out of this funk?

Thanks

[Angela]

Welcome, kmills50; I wish you great fun and success here.

And don't worry, here, everybody's an expert!

[nightdiamond]

Thank you Angela!, Hi kmills50....

If I may, I think you are experiencing what is called a plateau.... a point where progress seems to slow down or come to a stand still... it is natural and normal.

Usually when people begin certain endeavors , they may experience lots of progress at first, then suddenly experience a drop in progress as well motivation.

For example, when you began learning how to ride a bike..at first you felt great about keeping your balance and going faster, but perhaps after a few weeks, one day you get on the bike and just can't keep your balance right...

This also happens with weight loss, exercising, learning new skills....

It happens frequently with meditation too, as you can read from the various examples that have posted... The key is to understand that you are still benefiting even though you may feel out of touch with your previous progress.... everything you've learned during those few weeks is still there, you are not a raw beginner now...

My suggestion if it's ok, is to continue practicing anyway... the same way you would if you were learning how to ride a bike.. Many times people get into self improvment and meditation, but give up when they feel they cannot get back 'that feeling' they once experienced..and they lose the progress they may have made at first..... but when you keep practicing through the plateau, you make sure the patterns get stronger...

When you do it this way, eventually you will have your mind return back into the pattterns it experienced when you first started and you can enjoy those benefits again!

Take care let us know what you think...

[awakentransform]

What goes up must come down. Seriously though what you experienced is very normal with spiritual growth or any kind of growth. We advance forward and then we need to integrate it all. Like Nightdiamond said, just keep going.

Think of it like your stock portfolio. In the short term there will be lots of fluctuations up and down. Some people get scared and sell when the value drops. But the smart ones invest very consistently over a long period of time and become rich.

[veranadine]

I definitely agree with those above.

Take some time and get out in nature. Take walks by yourself.

This phase, plateau or period of integration will pass.

Then you will embrace new lessons, awareness and progress.

I wish you joy and blessings!

In Oneness,

[Brutha]

And don't worry, here, everybody's an expert!

Isn't it better to keep the beginner mind?
Is there really something like an expert at spirituatity when it's about getting more simply and more zen like (or whatever word you want to use).

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Isn't it better to keep the beginner mind?
Is there really something like an expert at spirituatity when it's about getting more simply and more zen like (or whatever word you want to use).

Beginner's mind is wonderful!

And everyone is an expert at being who they are.

[carenkh]

I second the recommendations to hang in there, keep your practices up, and just keep taking the next step that's in front of you.

You might get something out of reading After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield.

[kmills50]

I appreciate the words of encouragement. I did spend some good time sitting on my deck and star gazing this weekend. What a wonderful time to relax the body and mind. I need to do that more often.

One thing I want to explain. It is obvious whne you can see a plane high up in the night sky as there is a rythmic flash of a feint red or blue/green light (this is a plane HIGH up). Ok.....is it possible to see a satellite moving in space......let me explain:

What I saw was a dot that looks like a star, moving across the sky at a medium constant pace in a straight line. NOTHING LIKE WHAT PEOPLE DESCRIBE AS A UFO. It went across the sky from right to left at a range from a viewers perspective of 2 oclock to 10 oclock (NOT HORIZON TO HORIZON) then it faded out and disappeared. It was really weird and I saw it once on Saturday and once again on Sunday (different times and directions in the sky). I am thinking that the satellite lost the suns reflection, but I really dont know.

Has anyone ever noticed this in the sky. I have never really star gazed like that before.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by kmills50

Ok.....is it possible to see a satellite moving in space......

Indeed! If the conditions are right (i.e. the satellite is lit by the Sun, like the full Moon) you can easily see some of them.

I've never tried it, but I would bet that with some judicious Googling you could probably find a website that would tell you exactly what satellite you saw.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by kmills50

I appreciate the words of encouragement. I did spend some good time sitting on my deck and star gazing this weekend. What a wonderful time to relax the body and mind. I need to do that more often.

One thing I want to explain. It is obvious whne you can see a plane high up in the night sky as there is a rythmic flash of a feint red or blue/green light (this is a plane HIGH up). Ok.....is it possible to see a satellite moving in space......let me explain:

What I saw was a dot that looks like a star, moving across the sky at a medium constant pace in a straight line. NOTHING LIKE WHAT PEOPLE DESCRIBE AS A UFO. It went across the sky from right to left at a range from a viewers perspective of 2 oclock to 10 oclock (NOT HORIZON TO HORIZON) then it faded out and disappeared. It was really weird and I saw it once on Saturday and once again on Sunday (different times and directions in the sky). I am thinking that the satellite lost the suns reflection, but I really dont know.

Has anyone ever noticed this in the sky. I have never really star gazed like that before.

Satellites are quite common to the naked eye. I grew up with an amateur astronomer (never got into it myself, but it was one way to spend time with my dad, so I did it anyway).

As for your first post, Ruiz's books are a great place to start. You mentioned the Companion, did you read the books it's a companion to? Much of "The Four Agreements" deals with allowing yourself to "be" who and what you are in the moment.

Pema Chodron, a Buddhist Boddhisattva, in her book, "When Things Fall Apart", discusses allowing yourself to experience every emotion and every experience without judgement. When you begin a Spiritual Awakening as you did, you have no preconceived notions about what is "supposed" to happen. Therefore everything is amazing. As you become "used to" this state, you begin to feel less fulfilled. It's natural. But allowing yourself to appreciate your new life with the mind of a child will help you cherish what you have been granted.

That being said, this will also help you take the next step in your spiritual development.

Good luck!

[Groundless]

Originally Posted by Mato Kinze

Pema Chodron, a Buddhist Boddhisattva, in her book, "When Things Fall Apart", discusses allowing yourself to experience every emotion and every experience without judgement. When you begin a Spiritual Awakening as you did, you have no preconceived notions about what is "supposed" to happen. Therefore everything is amazing. As you become "used to" this state, you begin to feel less fulfilled. It's natural. But allowing yourself to appreciate your new life with the mind of a child will help you cherish what you have been granted.
Good luck!

If you realize everything is perfectly perfect and meant to be.

just be.

[john louis]

Hi,
Don't Worry.Everything will be allright.Through meditation, you became strong internally.Belive in God and take care.

Thanks