Welcome to Santa Clara Meditation! πΏ In the constant hustle and bustle of our daily routines, it is so easy to lose sight of who we truly are. Between work, family, and the expectations of others, many of us eventually reach a point where we feel breathless, empty, and disconnected from our own hearts.
In this short and reflective post, we explore the profound journey of pausing to look back on oneself. Take a moment today to step off the hamster wheel, look past the mirror, and face your true inner self through meditation. ποΈ
Every morning, I look into the mirror. I wash my face, put on makeup, and straighten my clothes… Sometimes my reflection in the mirror looks pretty, and sometimes it looks ugly. π
There are times when I am confused about which version of myself I see is the real one. I also wonder how I appear in the eyes of others. π
This morning, too, I step out the door. Countless people passing by on the streets… Their footsteps are so hurried, I wonder where they are rushing to. A daily routine spinning like a hamster wheel. Thoughts that drag me around, as if I am not myself. I, too, am heading somewhere, but why does my heart feel so empty without me even realizing it? π
“Getting married, raising kids, working at a job… taking care of the family, taking care of work, taking care of the in-laws… juggling everything here and there, I have lived 365 days a year incredibly busy, without a moment to rest.
But then, one day, my own reflection suddenly looked so shabby. I felt endlessly sorry for myself, merely enduring rather than truly living, wondering what on earth I was running so breathlessly for.” β From the story of a housewife in her 40s π°οΈ
Myself, tamed by the gazes of others and the standards of the world. Myself, not knowing where to go, like a lost migratory bird. Myself, appearing abundant on the outside but lacking richness in the heart. π₯
The moment you think it is too late is actually the earliest time. Try stepping just one pace outside of that boundary. And quietly look into your inner self. π§ββοΈ
What kind of life you have lived, What kind of thoughts you have had, Reflect on them slowly and carefully, one by one. π
Looking back on myself by myself is like buttoning the first button to get to know the self I never even knew.
Looking back on myself. Happy Meditation, Ma-eum Su-ryun. π
