Appreciating My Own Reflection
I was not very reflective by nature.
I am an extrovert, more interested in talking to people than in reflecting. People fascinate me. I love irony, and I love words. My mind gets caught up in weighing all the aspects of a situation to resolve the issues and conflicts. There was so much to think about that I did not take the time for real reflection.
I am learning the power of reflection.
It has taken me a long time. I have searched for spiritual depth, the Holy in many different ways for as long as I can remember. A very insightful person, after hearing the story of my searching, asked me why I got bored and gave up each time. He heard my story not as a series of failures demonstrating my shallowness and lack of commitment. He saw me being drawn deeper, toward a more intimate spiritual relationship. He saw that I was not willing to accept anything less than that.
I began practicing reflection, not to show how deep I was but to begin becoming reflective. I learned about contemplative disciplines, and I began practicing them. I began learning how to spend time being still. I began learning how to listen. I began listening to the Holy, to myself, and to other people. I began taking time regularly to listen to what silence has to tell me, beyond the irony and beneath the words.
Now I invite people to spend a few hours every few months reflecting and listening with me. We go somewhere peaceful and begin learning to appreciate our own reflection together. I would be glad to tell you more about these Days of Reflection, and meet you there.
Do you take time to listen to the silence?
What does your reflection tell you this week?
[Image by MSVG]
4 Comments
heather maggio
June 9, 2012Silence and reflection are so important. Only then can you hear your inner thoughts and truly find yourself. The noise just interupts are paths.
Strategic Monk
June 9, 2012Thank you, Heather.
I absolutely agree with you. It s only as I take time to listen to the silence that I recognize and appreciate my true self. There are so many distractions, within and without.
I look forward to talking with you again.
Norma
June 9, 2012I am learning that there is a difference between taking time to truly reflect or meditate and filling my time up with “stuff” in order to avoid the gift if reflection or meditation that is there at my fingertips. “Stuff” can take many forms and shapes …very rarely is it meaningful and yet for me is a comfortable space to be. I admire your candor and the path you lead.
Strategic Monk
June 9, 2012Thank you, Norma.
For me, the “stuff” that distracts me can even include reading about contemplation and reflection, if I spend time reading instead of reflecting. There is a difference between learning about contemplation and being contemplative.
It can be a challenge for me to be allow contemplation to form me, and not just gather information about it.