Gathering and dispersing are two concepts that are essential to our daily lives. Gathering refers to the act of focusing on particular things, while dispersing refers to the act of opening up and widening our view to take more into account. Both concepts are necessary for a balanced life, but in our modern society, the element of gathering is often overemphasized. This can lead to a contracted, pressured sense of self, which can cause anxiety, rumination, and suffering.
This week's talk with Dr. Rick Hanson teaches us how dispersing can lead to a sense of spaciousness and openness- which can reduce neural activity in parts of the brain that are responsible for a contracted sense of self. This can result in less suffering, anxiety, and frustration. By lifting our gaze, getting a sense of vastness, and taking a panoramic perspective, we can release ourselves from neural activity and experience a sense of everything.
You can find the meditation on Stillness, Openness, Kindness to go along with this talk, here: rickhanson.com...
If you would like to join the free, online Wednesday Meditations, sign up here: rickhanson.com...