Something annoying happened at work and I was left scrambling to get my office in shape before my first client arrived. I was confused and cross, as well as flustered. It was hard to know what to do. I resisted shooting off a text or email to the colleague responsible for the incident—maybe I should talk to her directly. But our paths don’t cross—we work different days. I also knew if I brought this up, she’d be defensive and hurt. So I went home fuming, and, in the middle of the night, I awoke fuming. The resentment, rage, and unfairness loomed over me in the dark as though I’d been dealt a personal and terrible insult. The unfairness, thoughtlessness, selfishness, and greed infuriated me, hammered at me. No reasonableness or compassion could penetrate my wild accusations and rage. Eventually, I got out of bed and started my day way too early, and, after a while, sat quietly in my chair to meditate. I hadn’t meditated regularly for a while and I realized my mind had gotten weak and flabby, just as my body does if I don’t exercise and walk regularly. When I meditate, all I need to do during those middle-of-the-night mind-chatter tantrums is to focus on a mantra or my breath. But I was so way out of practice that I kept getting distracted. It took a while to get back into the old flow of focus and stillness. When I finally did, I suddenly and unexpectedly regarded the entire irritating incident in a completely different light! Instead of anger and annoyance, I felt enormous gratitude for being reminded sharply, as though I’d had friendly blow to my head, that for healthy control over my thoughts, peace of mind, and a good night’s rest, I must return to my twice-daily meditation routine.
