A highly trained mind doesn’t need to keep making old realizations before they change habits, thought-patterns, behaviors, or an undesirable situation.
It happens once and they move on.
For a not-so-trained mind, making old realizations is inevitable.
The first time we notice something we either don’t like or that just makes us curious, it’s somewhat superficial.
It happens fleetingly enough that we don’t usually act on it.
Now, “acting on it” is often misunderstood – more on that in a bit.
So, we continue on our way.
At some point, sooner or later, we make the same realization again.
We notice again.
And again.
Some people go their entire lives making the same old realizations – wanting to change, alter or get rid of something completely…
…but they don’t act on it.
However, if you are mindful and/or practice meditation a certain stubbornness grows.
Not in a bad way.
I mean we grow stubborn toward unnecessary, unresourceful thoughts, habits and behaviors we have adopted.
Meditation trains a mind to see things as they really are.
With that, as we make the same old realizations again and again and…
Eventually, we let it go.
More accurately, the particular habit, thought-pattern or behavior loses its power or thrust. This naturally transfers to our daily lives and any situation we are not happy with.
And this brings us to “acting on it” – that is, making the decision to change…
True decision-making is acquiescence.
Surrender.
Our awareness transitions from just noticing to realizing at a deeper level to eventually accepting without resistance.
We know the truth but can’t quite admit it.
Anything unresourceful cannot withstand sustained mindful attention.
When it happens, it can seem like a black + white event.
But that’s kind of like how people say he/she was an overnight success. They neglect to acknowledge the years of planning, work and sustained attention that led up to that “moment”.
Similarly, a regular person who is mindful will keep making old realizations which eventually leads to action – or in the case of a bad habit losing it’s thrust, inaction.
Realizations do come more quickly for a better trained mind.
But it even works for a mind-in-training. Speaking of which, I’m off to do a little more training!
