In looking at Parkinson’s and your emotions, there is a recurring theme about how stress causes symptoms to get worse, particularly tremors. Part of this recovery from Parkinson’s includes giving yourself permission to have a clear mind.
Recently, I re-read a passage in Not Always So about life being like a movie. Each time I re-read a passage in the book, the meaning is a little different because time has passed since the last time I read the passage and a lot occurs with the passage of time.
What I took away this last time are the following two main points:
1. When we experience a movie, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, sometimes we are uncomfortable with what is going on, sometimes we are afraid, sometimes we are angry….the point is that we experience all kinds of emotions while watching the movie.
However, because we are watching a movie and we know it is not real, we experience the emotions and then we let them go…no lingering build up of held-in emotions. Essentially, we give ourselves permission to have a clear mind after the experience of the emotions.
2. The one thing that always is there at the beginning of the movie and at the end of the movie is the plain white screen.
Looking at number 1 above: If you can view your life in this manner, like a movie, then you can experience the events and their emotions and you then can give yourself permission to let the emotions go and have no lingering build up. You allow yourself to have a clear mind, which makes it easier to deal with life’s events.
Looking at number 2 above: For the best movie experience, at the beginning of the movie, it is projected onto a plain white screen. When the movie ends, all of the projection, color, action, and emotions are gone and you are left with the plain white screen.
The next day, in order for the next movie to show properly, you need to start with a plain white screen. That is what is accomplished with sitting zazen; you are giving yourself permission for your mind to clear. You are getting rid of residual, held-in, held-over emotions so you can start your day with a clear mind and a new ability to deal with life. Then, when a stressful situation appears, it is not piled upon layers of emotions making a clear solution difficult to conceive.
If each time you went to the movies, the movie from the day before and the day before that, etc. was playing on the screen and then they projected your movie onto the same screen, what would you experience?
Amongst other things, I would imagine you would experience anger and frustration at the situation, and confusion about trying to understand your movie, and you might suffer a stressful panic attack from the sensory overload of multiple movies being projected simultaneously on the screen while multiple soundtracks were blasting through the speakers, and the tremors and other symptoms might go out of control.
How can you avoid this? Start your day with a plain white screen. At some point at the beginning of each day, take at least five minutes to just sit still and focus on your breathing. Over time, you may wish to sit longer. Sitting zazen (on a cushion on the floor, legs in lotus or crossed position, back straight) is the way I do it now. I know that some of you cannot sit on the floor. No problem…sit in a chair, feet on the floor; that is the way I did it when I had Parkinson’s.
Once you find your quiet spot and sit there, count your breath from 1-10 like this: Start with an exhale and follow with your inhale. That is 1. When you get to 10, start at 1 again. As you are sitting and breathing and counting, you are focused on sitting and breathing and counting, and your residual, held-in, held-over emotions from the day before melt away, leaving you with a plain white screen.
As Suzuki also says in Not Always So, “Because we respect ourselves, because we put faith in our life, we sit.” Respect yourself, have faith in your life, and set aside the time to sit zazen.
Many people have been raised, taught, trained, and indoctrinated to the idea that you are not allowed to do anything for yourself. I submit that this is incorrect. This is why you need to give yourself permission to have a clear mind…many people do not feel that you are allowed to be kind and compassionate to yourself, even for five minutes of sitting quietly and focussing in your breath.
Respect yourself. Put faith in your life. Give yourself permission to sit and breathe. Give yourself permission to have a clear mind.
“I am allowed to have a clear mind.”
Now you are ready for the day. You are better equipped to deal with new emotions and stresses as they arise because you can project them onto your plain white screen, deal with them, and let them go.
You can do this!
Please post a comment below by copying and pasting these words:
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Yes you are! Each and every one of you is winning and you are worth it!!
All my best,
Howard
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Thank you, Howard!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Клетки моего мозга живы. Мой резервуар дофамина полон. Я применяю Рецепт, и мое выздоровление от болезни Паркинсона идет полным ходом. Мне позволено иметь ясный ум. Я необыкновенный. Я выздоравливаю. Я ПОБЕДИЛ! И Я ТОГО СТОИТ!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!! 🌟
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Meine Gehirnzellen sind heil.
Mein Dopaminspeicher ist voll.
Ich praktiziere das Recipe for Recovery, und meine Genesung von Parkinson ist auf dem besten Wege.
Ich habe das Recht, meinen Geist zu leeren.
Ich bin außergewöhnlich.
Ich bin Genesung.
Ich gewinne! Ich bin es wert zu genesen! Ich bin es absolut wert zu genesen!!!
Thank you, Howard!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Mu ajurakud on elus. Mu dopamiini reservuaar on täis. Ma teen Recipet ja mu paranemine Parkinsonist saab teoks. Mul on lubatud olla selge mõistusega. Ma olen erakordne. Ma olen paranemas. MA VÕIDAN! JA MA OLEN SEDA VÄÄRT !!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
I am allowed to have a clear mind!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
My brain cells are alive. My dopamine reservoir is full. I am doing the Recipe, and my recovery from Parkinson’s is happening. I am allowed to have a clear mind. I am extraordinary. I am recovery. I AM WINNING! AND, I AM WORTH IT!!!
Thank you, Howard.