Going away on a silent retreat was one of the most challenging experiences of my life...
I came to realize how interconnected we are, and how much we depend on technology, substances, and stimuli.
The first day of my retreat was extremely difficult.
I have not been caffeine free in many years and this retreat was total detox.
From the moment I got there, I had brutal headaches, fatigue and a severe lack of focus that seemed to last forever.
I sat in silence for 12 hours each day.
I reminisced about my life, with different perceptions of it; both positive and negative.
After a few hours of sitting, I experienced a tornado of thoughts.
Random memories of the past flashed before my mind's eye, mixed with aspirations of what was to be in the future.
I was on an emotional rollercoaster while I sat there in silence.
I went through so many different emotions from the peak of euphoria down to the depths of sadness about things that were totally out of my control.
As each day progressed, I became increasingly resilient and found myself aligning more into the present moment.
All of a sudden I experienced a flash of enlightenment that "Right Now," what is,
is the best there is.
I have always known this from a theoretical level, but to know it with every cell of my body is unlike anything that I've felt before.
I reflected deeply about dreams and desires and how we have a glamorous version of life that we aspire to enjoy at some future date.
However, when that time comes and we actually experience our dreams coming to fruition, it is not what we expected.
Our imagination's version is much more appealing than the "real thing."
The Reality is that the happiness you have at the present moment is no different when you have billions or when you're in the embrace of your soul mate.
It is all one and the same.
So why not create your own bliss, instead of depending on an external source to give it to you.
Another major insight was my ability to strip down to the core of who I am.
We have all these identities that we take on and off like underwear on a daily basis.
Whether I see myself as an entrepreneur, a young single man, health conscious, even spiritual, all of these labels are a mere fraction of who I truly am.
At the deepest essence, who we are is not who we think we are.
I discovered my true self after peeling away all of the identities of who I am not.
The effects of this realization have been profound on both the mind and body.
I currently feel an immense level of peace in my heart.
A sense of love that cannot be put into words.
My mind is sharper than its ever been.
There is a tremendous improvement in cognitive function.
I've noticed that I'm much more focused on tasks, where in the past I would get distracted easily.
All of my senses have become increasingly heightened.
Even an experience like listening to music is greatly enhanced.
I Now listen fully to every aspect of a song. The beats, the lyrics and pure emotion in the singers voice.
Rather than going into a distracting chorus of repetitive mind chatter,
I am 100 percent engulfed in the experience and I feel the music deep in my soul.
I've gotten a lot out of this experience.
I highly recommend you do something similar.
Perhaps, not as extreme as going on to a silent retreat,
but just getting away from all the technology, social media, news and chaos that is always competing for your attention.
Getting away from civilization will allow you to lift the fog that blurs your vision.
You'll come back with a new sense of clarity towards your life.
Just like rebooting your computer, you'll completely reset your mind, body and soul.
Spend a few days alone to remind yourself who you truly are at the deepest level.
You'll realize that the quieter you become, the more you'll be able to hear.
Reconnect with your inner voice, it has so much to tell you.
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