I have zero fear of the dentist. I think part of that stems from my mom's fears of the dentist and her desire for me to have a different experience as a result.
I went in for my twice-yearly check-up and cleaning the other day. Instead of a dental hygienist cleaning my teeth, my dentist does the job.
Usually, when he cleans my teeth, I close my eyes, breathe deeply and think of other things.
This visit was different. I decided to practice my "inner purpose" - as Eckhart Tolle talks about in A New Earth - and live each moment as my purpose.
I kept my eyes open, took deep breaths and became fully present as the dentist cleaned my teeth.
It's almost impossible to describe the experience - the conscious choice to live that moment in my life as my purpose. It's almost as if I could feel the molecules in the room shift into peace.
Either way, the experience was positive and reiterates what Eckhart Tolle emphasizes as inner purpose.
What's one task or moment you could embrace today as your inner purpose? How might making a conscious choice to be in the present moment impact your day?
I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.
I am so greatful to Eckhart Tolle and Oprah for turning me onto Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her beautiful book ""My Stroke of Insight"". Her story is amazing and her gift to all of us is a book purchase away I'm happy to say.
Dr Taylor was a Harvard brain scientist when she had a stroke at age 37. What was amazing was that her left brain was shut down by the stroke - where language and thinking occur - but her right brain was fully functioning. She experienced bliss and nirvana and the way she writes about it (or talks about it in her now famous TED talk) is incredible.
What I took away from Dr. Taylor's book above all, and why I recommend it so highly, is that you don't have to have a stroke or take drugs to find the deep inner peace that she talks about. Her book explains how. ""I want what she's having"", and thanks to this wonderful book, I can! Thank you Dr. Taylor, and thank you Eckhart and Oprah.
Posted by: Rogelio | May 30, 2008 at 06:52 PM
That's a great mindset to practice. I know many people here in Atlanta who are afraid of going to the dentist that they even come up with all sorts of excuses just to avoid it. It's unfair for dentists because they only mean well. I guess it will help if people were to think that all their toothaches, the extractions, the root canals, they all have a purpose. It can even be applied in other aspects of their life.
Posted by: Eddie Storms | March 22, 2011 at 07:12 PM