When your heart feels restless, look up at the sky. ~Your blue sky, hidden behind the clouds of emotion~ #7
《Mindfulness Researcher Series Vol. 7》
Hello everyone, good morning or good evening. I am Yoi no Tomo, a mindfulness researcher.
Today, I would like to share an important story about the "sky" that I learned from my yoga teacher.
I have been helped by this story many times myself.
Just by looking up at the sky, my heart feels a little lighter.
This is a story about a "mindfulness" experiment in everyday life.
"Above the cloudy sky, there is a blue sky"
When I first started learning yoga, this was something my teacher often said.
Even when the sky is cloudy, a blue sky spreads out far above those clouds.
And even further above that, a quiet and peaceful universe extends.
My teacher would often ask me this while talking about the sky.
What is the sky like today?
Sometimes it is sunny, and sometimes it rains.
Sometimes it is cloudy, and sometimes it flashes with lightning.
Sometimes the sky is calm, and sometimes it changes suddenly.
The heart is the same.
Sometimes you feel good, and sometimes you want to cry.
Sometimes you are lost, and sometimes you are furious.
But no matter the weather, there is always a blue sky behind it.
Even if the sun is hidden by clouds, it is shining on the other side.
Human emotions are like clouds. They are constantly changing and never stay still.
They flow by while changing their shape.
No matter what kind of clouds cover the sky, they will eventually drift away. There is a sun behind them, isn't there?
No one thinks that the sun doesn't exist just because it's a cloudy day, right?
This story remained deeply within me.
...I remember my teacher telling me this in such a gentle tone.
Even though they are usually scary (lol), sometimes they get so kind, haha.
"Teacher, you really share such deep stories~~~"
Looking at the sky is looking at the heart
Since then, I have started looking up at the sky more often.
When I wake up in the morning.
On the commuter train.
When I am walking home.
I have started to make time to gaze at the sky in my casual daily life.
The refreshing blue sky of the morning, the sky with heavy, hanging clouds, and the night sky with stars.
They all start to look like my heart.
Sometimes it is sunny, and sometimes it is cloudy.
Sometimes it changes in an instant, and sometimes it remains calm.
I have come to think that the sky and my heart are similar.
Emotions are clouds. They eventually change shape and flow away
When I look at the sky, I notice things like this.
No matter how heavy or pitch-black the clouds are, they never stay in the same shape forever.
"It was heart-shaped a moment ago, but now it's turning into some unrecognizable shape."
Clouds are blown by the wind, change their form, and eventually disappear.
The emotions in your heart are the same.
The anger or sadness you feel right now will not continue with the same intensity forever.
"It's cloudy now, but there is a blue sky behind this."
Just being able to think that makes me feel a little relieved.
I feel like I learned that while looking up at the sky.
Conclusion | The Blue Sky Is Always "Beyond That"
When your heart feels heavy.
When for some reason the fog just won't lift.
I look up at the sky.
And I tell myself this.
"No matter what the sky looks like, there is always a blue sky above it."
Even when dark clouds seem to be spreading across your heart,
believe that there is a clear, sunny sky waiting deep beyond them.
Without rushing, just as you watch the drifting clouds,
try gently watching over your own emotions as well.
If your sky is gloomy today,
please try looking up at the sky, even if just for a few seconds.
I am sure you will be able to notice that a gentle blue sky is spreading deep within your heart as well.
Until we meet again.
Thank you for reading today as well.
I want to be a friend to your heart
~From a Friend of the Evening~