Situational Awareness Lost And Found

Last night, in MN, airplane pilots were so distracted, say the news reports, they missed their landing by 150 miles. The pilot of the airplane said that they were in a heated discussion and "lost situational Awareness." A new name for being distracted. Some say they were asleep b/c of pilot fatigue. I marvel at the fact that pilot's have a name for being asleep or distracted.

If you're not new to CFM or even meditation, you may have honed in on the relevance of this story.

This past week it was a verbal ministry free meeting. I've noticed that I go even deeper in my meditation during this kind of meeting. It keeps me closer to the top of the meditation cycle I guess. I want to say more awake, but that's not it. I had a very peaceful, awake, very visual meditation. I did not fall asleep. BTW, I've never fallen asleep in meeting. At least not yet. This meeting was restful, healing. See the white bread post.

What do I need to do to help create a centered or gathered meeting like this one?

Leave my below the line emotional baggage outside. Like anger, hate, etc...I know that affects a space.

Be there early. Settling down goes faster when I don't have to wait till the adreneline rush subsides from being late.

Blood sugar. Yes, sometimes it is an issue for me. I may need to eat something to get me through the hour, something small. Water helps too.

Breathing. Be aware of my breathe. Especially when I get started. Then my breathing slows down tremendously. This is how I know that I'm relaxed.

And relax. I need a chair with arms. Sit back with my back firmly against the chair.

Eyes open or closed? I start with closed. Then I open them periodically. I'm guessing it is a grounding mechanism, helps me to keep a hold of my situational awareness. I like that word pair!

TM or not to TM. I usually start off with my TM practice. and then let it go once I'm in the meditative state. This takes about 10-15 minutes. Usually the cue is when the children leave the meeting. This is a good grounding for me. All the while I'm awake, very aware of surroundings. I hear everything. in fact, my senses seem heightened.

Here I get cinema-graphic...The waiting in the light, it is very Speilbergian for me. I guess it is b/c I'm visually oriented. I consider myself a "visual haptic". Things are so clear in my mind, I feel I could touch them. Other senses are heightened as well.

Using the White bread experience as an example; I could feel the heat from the sunlight on my face that was streaming through the white bread when I was a 7 year old child. I felt the feelings of joy as well. Very strong feelings too. I was transported back in time. But all the while I was a 100% present in the room, aware of everything.

Very healing. Very connecting. Very safe. But no leadings. No concerns have developed. I'll go with a massaging of self worth, being loved, being accepted, being a part of the group, community of believers like me, or somewhat like me. Probably is what I need right now.

Coming out of the meditation is abrupt for me in meetings like this. I've gone deep. I need time to climb back up. It takes at least 2-5 minutes.

Afterwards, I feel refreshed, alive. More awake. But I never lost consciousness or awareness. It was a stress free awareness in fact.