I just returned from a New York City and wanted to share with you a quick story. It involves a Jungian analysis workshop that I took part in and a sailboat. —————- I must confess: I’m a recovering daydreamer. All my life, I’ve struggled to focus in on the present because my mind so quickly would drift to Neverland. In school, at work, in yoga class, in flight — these are just a few of the many times my mind has wandered. Living in the present — to “be here now” — is the core of living mindfully. It turns out, however, that while tuning into the present is important, it’s also helpful to tune into the images that arise from our unconscious selves: in daydreams, dreams, or images that arise during a form of exercise like yoga. What I’d like to explore with you today is what I learned in a Jungian analysis workshop I attended in New York and led by certified Jungian analysts, Morgan and Jenn Stebbins. Based off of Carl Jung’s exploration of the unconscious, I’d like to leave you with three helpful steps to use the images that arise in your life as a spotlight to brighten your path on purpose. Try this... Create Space for Images to Arise Keep a journal handy to write down images that arise throughout your day. I use Evernote on my phone. Write down the images that arise unintentionally, like that in a daydream. As you go throughout your day, train your brain to recognize when you are daydreaming and instead of pushing away from the dream, embrace it. Explore the images that come to your mind and jot them down in your notes. Intentionally seek out images. In meditation, for instance, we’re typically taught to push away the images that arise so that we can focus on the breath. Instead, however, try paying attention to the images that arise and write them down after you complete your meditation. It’s okay if you forgot a few of them. Just jot down the ones that stuck with you till the end. Often times, I find a unique image to arise at the end that is far different from the first set of images that come to mind. Keep a dream journal near your bed. When you wake up, instead of jumping right out of bed, try spending just three minutes to recall any dreams you had and write them down. Don’t be surprised when you start remembering more of your dreams after a couple weeks of doing this. Exercise to find images. In yoga, for instance, certain asana poses that are difficult for me tend to cause my mind to daydream so as to avoid the discomfort of the position. Mindful yoga action would suggest to come back to the pose and not let your mind wander. Just once in awhile, reverse this, and see what images come to mind during the pose. Write them down. Share An Image With Others Choose one image to focus on (I’ll share mine in a bit). Share this image in a small group (2-3 people). It’s best if these people don’t know you very well so they can offer an objective point of view. Allow your group to talk out the possible symbolism of the image and do not offer any words. Instead, listen. Perhaps you saw a wolf and while you think wolves are scary, your group focuses on how wolves may represent the loyalty of being in a pack, for instance. Personally Reflect on the Image Reflect on what others in your group said. Consider googling around and find what cultures in the past have said your image symbolically represents. Take all of this in and synthesize it with your own opinion and feelings surrounding the image. Write down any epiphanies that arise or just simply explore how this symbolic inquiry into the image could offer you direction in your life. ————— Here’s what happened to me: Many images came to mind during just a five-minute meditation. The last one stuck with me. I imaged a sailboat drifting in the ocean a few hundred yards from where I stood on the beach. Gray clouds hung overhead, fear clouded my mind, and when the cold dark water touched my toes, I stepped back. I wore a hoodie and pants and wanted to swim to the anchored sailboat. I then shared this image with my small group. The two women in my group spoke of how the boat could represent movement with a sense of adventure. Since I felt I owned the boat, I own this adventure. Because I’m not wearing a wetsuit, they said, or properly equipped to swim through the cold water to the boat, there’s some preparation that needs to be done. Okay, interesting, I thought. Then I went home and synchronicity (as Jung would call it) happened. I walked into my office and noticed a coffee cup out of place on a shelf near my desk. On the front of the cup, which just so happened to be a gift from my wife, read the inscription “Adventurer” just below the image of an anchor. Interesting, I thought. Then I opened up my email and at the top of the inbox was a message from a NY Times reporter I met two years ago. In the message, she told me that a friend of hers is moving from New Zealand to New York and wanted to know a bit about the public schools in my area. She asked if I could offer some advice to them since I know the schools in New York quite well. Oh yeah, she mentions near the end, the husband is a competitive sailor and since I learned how to sail on the Hudson River, could I perhaps also offer a bit of local advice on the sailing scene? A sailboat image at the workshop, the coffee cup with an anchor out of place, the email that inquired about sailing advice — that was enough for me to pay attention. So, what does this all mean? How will I use this image to help guide me down my path? Stay with me to find out. It starts with me getting in the water and preparing for an epic swim. -------------------------------- What about you? What images come to your mind and how could they perhaps help guide you down your path on purpose? It’s okay if images don’t come up right away. Just remember to share the image with a small group of people and then take in what you learn from listening to others. You may not get any epiphany, but this certainly will help you walk forward. Tune in with an open heart, open mind, and listen. Thank you for joining me :)
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