We could think of mindfulness meditation as a pragmatic way of getting to know ourselves better so we can have more choice in how we feel and behave, and so we can get unstuck when life’s not feeling OK.

Why might we need a method like this?  

As humans we all have a deep need to make sure we are safe and secure, satisfied and connected in the ways we value.

We have three systems to manage this:

• The drive mode
• The defensive mode, and
• The restorative mode.

If we're healthy and well, human beings have a drive mode and we're motivated to get things done, to make things happen, to find mates, food and shelter, and to contribute and be admired, to pursue our interests, and to be supported and recognised for that.

And we also have a defensive mode. We're motivated to protect and defend ourselves when things feel dangerous, so our fight, flight, freeze and fawning systems kick in. That's healthy too. All of our past experience dictates what we perceive as threatening, and can make it tricky to discern what is a real threat and what is an imaginary one.

And in this culture of ours, we can really get stuck in those two systems, going for what we want, in striving or threat.

Mindfulness practice helps us step back and use our discernment:
Am I on autopilot with my drive?
And can I discern the difference between real threats and imaginary ones?

And there is a third motivational system that’s quite undeveloped in our culture – the restorative mode, which works to down-regulate, to rest, to recuperate and to affiliate with others. And it's the feeling that often comes when we're in “my patch”, with “my people” doing it the way we like to do it. It's a kind of “home base” feeling. Quite spontaneously in this state, feelings of connection, kindness, softness, compassion arise naturally.

Unless we make time and space to restore our nervous system, we can find we're on autopilot in drive mode, and dealing with real and imaginary threats and challenges all the time. This can lead to really poor physical and mental health. And we can continue feeding our distractedness, our irritation, our overwhelm, or we can do something different. 

Meditation practice can be a fast track to restoring balance which can help us see ourselves, our problems and the situation with a bit more clarity and precision. We can then become more aware of which wolf we are feeding, and more choice opens up.

At the outset, what it can offer us is an immediate sense of being more present, grounded and less stressed. It literally can be a way of regulating and restoring the nervous system every day. And just 10 minutes a day can make such a difference.

And if you get a feel for it, and continue over time, it has the potential to be quite a profound accompaniment in life – like a guiding star.  It has helped me feel a genuine sense of connectedness and purpose, and a home base to rest into, even in moments when I get tipped upside down by life. 

Come and join us at OpenGround for the journey.

—Timothea Goddard