Making A Shift to a Calm State
“I am Angry. Can you clear me of this anger?” Yes, we can see what can be cleared. But then in the end Conscious Choice shows up as the final item to clear. Now what.
Well, I went looking for that “what”. Anger seems to pop up a lot lately. People are polarized. We are angry at politics, parents, the school system, climate volatility, lack of equality. You name it and we are mad about it.
You can’t just stop being angry. To shove anger deep inside is only to invite more anger, physical repercussions and the possibility of it popping up at inopportune moments.
I have to tell you that anger is not the problem. Anger is a signal, that there is a problem. I’ve learned that I can’t philosophize anger away. Anger is a physical reaction and to acknowledge it by bringing my attention to it helps to dissolve it physically. If I can admit to myself I am angry about a particular incident, then I have nurtured and confirmed myself. I am my own parent, opening my arms to myself to give myself a big hug. But the next step will lead me forward.
Now that I acknowledge the signal, I must move myself from anger (fight or flight) into a peaceful state (calm mind) in order to find my next step in a positive way. You know, to use this sign and energize what must be done about the injustice I perceive. Anger can burn us up inside. It can take away our thoughts and makes us incapable of constructive responses.
The answer to the problem is not in the angry state, it is in the calm state. In fact, every time a problem is created in the universe the solution is created at the same time. We just have to find it. We live in a world of duality for that exact reason. We are never more than an inspired thought away from a solution to our problems.
So back to the anger. Once I acknowledge what is present now I choose to shift from anger to calm in this way:
- Sit in a relaxed posture with your spine erect. Close your eyes if you feel safe to do that where you are. Take 3 conscious breaths. Let your exhalation be longer than your inhalation. Keep them consistent. If you count to 2 on the in breath, count 4 on the out breath.
- Recognize the exact emotion that is arising in you now. Is it irritation, anger, anxiety or confusion? Could it be joy or love? Observe the direction of the movement of your thinking. Is it entangled in the past, future or present?
- Now move your attention to your eyebrow center. Visualize or feel a tiny flame at your eyebrow center. This area is called your third eye. The flame looks like a candle flame that gently flickers but is sure of itself. When you are ready move that flame to the center of your brain. Hold your attention on this flame in the middle of your brain for a few moments. Watch it light up the center of your conscious connection to your high self. You have now taken attention away from your monkey mind and habitual thinking and put your attention on the meditative part of the brain. This will connect you to higher levels of thinking and if you can stay there and open; ideas, solutions, and calm will enter your body and mind. Take what you want from it. You are not deciding what to do from your anger reaction, you are connected to true intelligence and have access to real answers.
- When you are ready, you can smile and open your eyes, stretch your body, and revisit your issue.
One more thing to explore is to ask yourself; “What is my perception of the situation I am angry about?” My anger can be fueled by my perception of myself, others or the situation. My perception is the meaning I give to a situation. So, while I am creating the inspired solution, can I shift my perception of the situation? Can I give it a new meaning?
This process may take a little practice, but before long, you’ll be able to make the shift from reacting from anger to acting from a calm state. At that point, there’s no longer a need to clear for Conscious Choice.