The Wanting Mind of Depression
Satisfaction Meditation
Sit in a meditative posture, focusing on your breathing and saying “in” and “out” for each respiration for several minutes until you feel that you’re in a state of calm mindfulness.
Visualize yourself sitting at a table with a large glass of clear, sparkling water before you. Feel your thirst, your lack, your wanting.
Reach for the glass and begin to drink from it. As you drink, this magic glass never empties. You feel the sensation of cool, satisfying water quenching your thirst as you drink. Drink with deep, satisfying gulps until you feel sated.
Now, become aware of a beam of warm, energizing light, a light of infinite knowledge and wisdom, shining all around you and infusing you with all that you’ll ever need to know. Radiate in this light of wisdom, becoming one with it.
As you experience the sensation of being satisfied, feel yourself glowing with white light. Know that you are an illuminating beacon, shining brilliantly with the light of wisdom, love, and acceptance. Feel it inside of you, radiating outward. You have more than enough light inside of you. Experience it. Notice what it feels like to be satisfied, to be so filled with light that it flows forth from you, giving you a deep sense of satisfaction.
Remain present with this feeling of satisfaction until you’re ready to open your eyes and end your meditation.
An alternative image you may want to use during this meditation is that of stretching your treelike roots downward, breaking through hard soil to reach the sustenance of groundwater deep in the earth. Again, imagine yourself drinking in all that you need until you are satisfied.
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. is the author of the widely acclaimed book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss, and Change. He is the Executive Director of the OpenMind Training® Institute, practices mindfulness-based mind-body psychotherapy and leadership coaching in Santa Monica, CA, for individuals and corporate clients. He has taught personal and clinical training groups for professionals in Integral Psychotherapy, Ericksonian mind-body healing therapies, mindfulness meditation, and Buddhist psychology nationally and internationally since 1970. www.openmindtraining.com
