For many, many years, I experienced a great deal of suffering from a particular behavior — going back to sleep in the morning when it is time to wake up. Thanks to lots of guidance and a great deal of recording, listening, and other practice supports, suffering around this behavior has diminished significantly.

I am able to (mostly) bring unconditional love to this human, even when I go back to sleep; however, I really would prefer to wake up at the time I have scheduled!

On my last retreat, I received guidance on a specific Recording and Listening practice. Recently, I began applying this practice to this issue of going back to sleep. I made a very short recording and put it where I can find it quickly and listen to it easily. I recorded things like “I choose to be awake, aware, and alive. I choose to not listen to conditioning talk me into going back to sleep" and so on. In places, I leave a space on the recording so I can repeat the things I choose, out loud, while listening. Though it's short, it's a very powerful recording. I listen to it at night and often during the day.

Most important, I listen to it first thing in the morning, repeatedly. This recording lives on an older, simple recorder and in one folder, a folder with just six recordings, making it easy to locate. Easy access is key. Recently, I also purchased a $5 adapter so I can plug my recorder into the outlet so low batteries can’t stop me. Over time, I add to the recording many of the gifts and benefits, as further encouragement. It's been a great support and practice, for which I am immensely grateful.  Gassho.
 

 

 

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