Are you like this too? Is persistence and concentration like herding cats in your mind?
I have found that sometimes it can a little difficult to control my thoughts on a consistent basis.
Some mornings my visualization goes very well. I can see the seed sprouting and my flower growing and breaking through the ground. I am amazed at how each stalk grows and sends out a bud. I can see the different colors of my flower and I can smell the fragrance.
This one morning was especially difficult – almost like herding cats. Every time I started my visualization my thoughts were off in a different direction. I stop, refocus, and try again. My thoughts were off and running again.
I opened my eyes one morning during my sit and I saw one of my cats just staring up at me.
Morning Coffee
It so happens that I do my morning sit before I feed the cats. Every morning I get up early, drink my coffee while I do my reading. After my reading, I do my meditation. I sit on the floor in my office. One of my cats sits right in front of me and stares at me the whole time.
I can tell from his look that he is hungry and is very focused on getting food. I know if he could talk, he would be saying “feed me, feed me, feed me…”
Talk about concentration. I realized that if I focused and concentrated on my goals the way the cat focuses on getting food, I would attain everything that I could ever want.
The more that I learn the more I become aware of how active my mind really is as well as how strong my old blueprint is.
My Old Blueprint — Herding Cats
I say I am going this new direction with my DMP, PPNs and what I am learning. My old blueprint is saying: Nope, you are going back this other way because that is what you have always done and are used to doing.
Up jumps the devil (read old blueprint) and says, it is so much easier to do things the old way. You need to relax, watch some TV. I start to wonder, am I really changing??
But then I thought about my rose again. There is so much going on that we don’t see. Just because change isn’t visible doesn’t mean that it is not happening.
For example, we had a light dusting of snow the night before. I went out to my car in the morning to go to work and I couldn’t help but notice that the rose is still trying to bloom. Talk about persistence!!
How can I do any less?
Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail, I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult…I will persist until I succeed.
Og Mandino
This is a humbling experience. Every time I think I am getting a handle on things something comes up to distract me. The good news is that I am catching it and not following the rabbit down the rabbit hole. It has been said that visualization and control of one’s thoughts is work. I agree with this statement. My brain was tired after my morning sit.
I am so glad I have my compass, my colors, index cards and my definite major purpose so that it doesn’t always feel like I am herding cats. They have been very helpful in getting me back on track.
How can I go wrong when: “I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving harmonious and happy.”
I greet this day with love in my heart!
Charles Haanel
This is great, I love how you have learned from your cat, while improving your own focus.
I agree Arlene – and I know I’m going to learn more from my kitty too! #Hero I love you
You are so clearly describing that “hard mental labor” required for a real transformation…And I love this interaction with your cat that you described with such humor 🙂 For sure, your cat is telepathically sending you the message that he wants you to feed him, but I have the feeling he is also doing something more which is supposed to help you in your meditation…Well, that’s just a hunch, maybe you should ask him 🙂
Agree Luc such a great story to learn from! Great great comment bud
Deborah, your blog was so enlightening and encouraging along with so much positivity in it. I enjoyed your statement on: Just because change isn’t visible doesn’t mean that it is not happening. This is so true and I appreciate your reminder. I also like your quote from Og Mandino: Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail, I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult…I will persist until I succeed. This quote is so powerful and it really encourages me to press on no matter what the situation. I’m glad you have your tools as I do agree they are essential in order to get back on track. Thanks for sharing your gems of learning.
Eulaine I thought the same exact thing – great minds think alike
Thank you for sharing the story about your morning sits and your cat staring at you. That reminded me of quite another story about a dog that always wanted to be in the same room when his owner massaged people. She said to me that the dog healed her clients while she massaged them. I think that our animals do so much more for us than we are aware of.
OMGosh Monica I agree completely – when Hero sits with me during the sit and purrs and purrs it’s so healing
Deborah I really enjoyed your comments and appreciate that you shared that your cat stares at you while you do the sit. I wonder if cats are able to know that they have a subby and if they concentrate, they will get what they want!?? Sitting in silence, concentrating, plus knowing that it worked in the past! Animals are so amazing. Wouldn’t it be great if they could speak. Your cat seems very smart. And definitely is cute.
Agree Dianne!! Cats and all animals are amazing at giving us insights we can receive!
Mark was just telling me how he tried so hard to get his dog tiny to talk when he was a did – I wish I knew what they are thinking lol
I love how you wrote about reining in your thoughts like “herding cats”. I know how hard it was in the beginning to fully grasp the importance of the “Sit” and how it would positively affect my outcome. Now, I have full faith of its power and welcome it like an old friend. That old blueprint has no chance!
Agree completely Pammy – this sit is now my super happy, relax. feel the joy and love place – blessed
Beautiful blog by Deb and narrated by Pammy. So insightful!
I just love the pic of the rose keeping growing despite the heavy freezing snow blanketing it. It will be a powerful visual reminder to me in my own attempts at “herding cats” thoughts and my persistence in growing against all challenges. I’m so grateful.
Love this blog so much. This is so much fun! thanks for sharing Deb.
Your article reminded me of my one and only pet, my cat, Shadow Noir! Thanks for the memories and the reminder to stop and smell the roses.
Deb, you make a really good point about one of the secrets to change.
You suggest that the mind in it’s unconscious habit likes taking the easy route and ‘doing things the old way’ because that’s the comfort zone.
Change takes persistence, one small step at a time.
With the new input to help with radical change with your Master Key Experience tools, it sounds like it makes change a whole lot easier?!