Evan Renaerts

Stress-less

November 3, 2007

A fine, misting rain falls, soaking the earth, greening the growth; everything is shrouded in the soft grays of autumn.

Riding on a city bus, sitting in a cafe, at an appointment with a professional and I keep noticing people who cannot sit still. One leg taps incessantly, hands rub together, the entire body shifts from one position to another and another – there is a sense of some pent up frustration or dis-ease.

It seems to me, here in my corner of North America, that this phenomenon is more widespread and apparent than ever before, as though people can no longer simply be still and attain some level of inner peace.

We live in a world filled with more and more distractions, music plugged straight into ears, ever-present internet, connectivity and communication, the very air waves are buzzing. We humans do love to distract ourselves, to tune out in all the various ways, and yet our best efforts don’t appear to be bringing the relief we seek.

Every few weeks there is another news article or academic study discussing the impacts and affects of our increasingly stress-filled-lives. Organizational consultants coach people on how to manage their emails and phone calls, and how to manage their time, and how to manage some balance in life, and what you end up with is a different kind of busy-ness, but it’s still busy-ness.

Some people I know long for a more idyllic time, a time from some imaginary past, and the occasional person actually moves out to the country, to a quieter and slower life. For the vast majority of us this isn’t a viable option, we need to work and to live in places that are accessible to that work.

So, how do we do the things that we need to do, and maybe even really want to do, and still enjoy life? How do we keep on keeping on, while reducing the stress?

I have found, from personal experience as well as experience shared with many others, that simple awareness meditation is one of the best ways to lower stress levels, and ultimately to change how we relate to the world and to life. Awareness meditation can teach us to be aware of our inner state, and through the “key” of awareness we unlock a greater possibility for choice.

My own chosen meditation practice works with an awareness of the breath; sitting in silence for a period of time, watching the in-breath, watching the out-breath, noticing when there is tension and disturbance, noticing when there is calm. It is a simple and demanding practice that changes every aspect of life.

Because the breath instantly reacts to stimulus; going from an even flow, to erratic, and then ragged, it can alert us to our primary experiences long before we have begun any outward reaction. The breath becomes uneven and the practiced meditator immediately wonders to them self, “what is causing this, what am I experiencing?”

Working in this way we can become more aware of those times and those situations where we feel overwhelmed, frightened, angry, resentful or frustrated. Through the increased awareness we can avoid reacting in ways that damage us and others.

Meditating day after day, we learn to accept our selves just as we are; this acceptance can be a first step in an alchemical change. The willingness and acceptance of our selves, just as we are, means that we have already become something bigger, we have become a bigger container, more able to embrace the ups and downs of life.

Beginning a daily meditation practice can seem like a huge undertaking. People say, how can I find the time, or, I don’t know how to meditate, or, I can’t sit still. For most of us our ego does not want to sit in silence and is far happier hashing and rehashing the same old material over and over again – making itself sick.

Whatever doubts and concerns may arise, the value of meditation out weighs them all! The easiest way to begin is to just begin. Find a quiet place and sit. Watch the flow of the breath and then watch the mind’s resistance to such a simple task. Keep returning awareness to the breath and watch your consciousness awaken.

Evan Renaerts
604 314 0835
evan@evanrenaerts.com