Meditation: Reclaiming your Authority
Amongst many things, meditation has shown me that I have more authority over myself than I thought I did.
My existence was alway dictated by emotion and the external environment - pushed and pulled by things outside of control, anger and frustration towards others because of their actions, pushing away things that felt uncomfortable, striving for and chasing things that were always out of reach.
In short, avoiding what was here right now.
It was akin to slavery, no inner authority - tho I would not articultate it in these ways, there was no ability to choose how I respond to my life - inner & outer.
As my meditation practice deepened, I began to recongise that I was creating this space between me and my moment-to-moment experience.
And it’s in that space that I see that I have a choice in what and how I engage in these things.
I began to notice that the thoughts, feelings and emotions are inviting awareness and curiosity, not just hooks to knee-jerk reactivity.
Here’s a few notes on what I’ve learnt on meditation & reclaiming authority over myself - they may be useful reflections for you:
1. Mastering the Mind
The mind is constantly pulled by distractions — social media, worries, expectations, regrets. Meditation trains to observe these thoughts without attachment - did I ask for this thought to arise? When reacting to every impulse lessens, already there is a litle more control over the mind. I have more power over the decision on where my attention goes; and perhaps more importantly, where it doesn’t.
2. Emotional Intelligence
Authority over yourself means mastery over your emotional state - to feel emotions and not be controlled by them is masculine, to react and be controlled by them is a more feminine trait. Meditation has taught me how to sit with discomfort — to feel anger, fear, and sadness without letting them dictate my actions. Stillness amongst the turbulance of emotions.
3. Strengthening Presence
In my experience, an unfocused mind is weak; a present mind is powerful. Meditation sharpens the attention and deepens presence. Instead of drifting through life, I noticed that I’m showing up fully — in conversations, decisions, and moments of difficulty. Engaging in all of it.
4. Re-writing Stories
I grew up with a many limiting beliefs - from my relationship to money to what I could achieve, to my worth in relationships. I carried this programming around all my life. Meditation has helped to dissolve these conditioned patterns. As you sit in silence, you being to shed these accumulated layers and begin revealing the authentic self beneath - which has been there all along.
5. Conviction in Speech & Behaviour
When the mind is calm and the heart is clear, words carry more weight. There is no longer seeking approval or fearing rejection - there is confidence to share what I want, when it feels right to and also to be silent when the moment demands.
If you’ve sat with yourself in meditation for 15-20 mins, you’ll know it is far from passive — it’s a process of taming the chaos of the inner world. And to to have command over it creates an unshakeable foundation.
No doubt, this inner world foundation is vital for building anything in the outer one.
Here for your transformation.
Let’s walk together.x
Arjun