Crossing Bridges

A common saying is: “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” Yet, we often attempt to cross mental bridges, which we never actually arrive at.

When we forecast for a future, planning out our reactions and responses – without knowing if that future will ever arrive – we may lose sight of what’s happening around us and impose unnecessary stress on ourselves.

Further, we often cross bridges unknowingly. Throughout the day we may run through a plethora of mental situations, without realizing we are doing such. In these moments, our bodies remain in their present location, yet our minds stray to distant lands; our bodies and minds become disconnected.

Meditation allows us to first develop an awareness of our current headspace: are we engaged with present reality, or have our minds checked out to a far flung future? With this new awareness, we develop the ability to make a conscious decision: we can decide to either return to present reality or remain in foreign lands. When we chose to return to the present, we can shine our mental attention on the feelings of our breath. In the process, we realign our mind’s awareness with our bodies doing; we re-connect our minds to our bodies.

Over time, we can learn to let go of compulsive planning, and hone a capacity to prepare instead.

Planning is outlining a future; preparing is equipping for a future and allowing for all the uncertainty that may entail.

When I notice myself thinking of a situation which is yet to arrive, I’ll pause, feel the sensations of my breath and then reflect: “do I need to cross this bridge right now?”