If negative thoughts are impacting your happiness, then an upcoming meditation series in Okotoks could help you let go.
The Akshobya Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Calgary is bringing The Art of Letting Go, a five-part series, to the Okotoks Public Library starting next week.
The classes run every Monday from 7 to 8:15 p.m. beginning on Jan. 13.
Buddhist nun Kelsang Khacho, the primary teacher at the centre, will lead the first session on letting go of anxiety before turning the series over to Okotokian Jason Barlow.
Further sessions will tackle overthinking, hurt feelings, negative self-talk and guilt.
“Have you ever had somebody say all you have to do is let go? It can be quite annoying because sometimes we're not even sure what it is that we need to let go of,” said Khacho.
“We can't really pinpoint what we are holding on to so it can become quite overwhelming. That's really what we’re exploring in the series, what Buddhism is always about really, looking in our own mind and understanding what thoughts are arising.”
Khacho said recognizing the source of negative thoughts is half the battle, and once that’s done, it starts to pacify things.
“I like the analogy of when something's lurking in the shadows and we're afraid because we’re not sure what it is, but then you turn around, you face it head on and it turns out to be a cat," Khacho said.
“So, it's really about bringing it to the forefront and then it isn't so scary. I think many of these fears that we have we don't really want to face because it can be quite overwhelming.”
Khacho said the classes will provide practical techniques to let go of negativity and break free from self-limiting thoughts.
"Anxiety, overthinking, guilt, it all takes us away from being in the moment. We're thinking about the past or we're thinking about the future, worrying about the past, worrying about the future, and that takes us away from the moment.
“So, when we can just begin to identify what's going on in our mind with meditation, that brings us into the moment, and then we just stop those busy minds and those exaggerated minds.”
There is a $15 fee per class or $60 for the series. Each class is self-contained and no previous experience with meditation is required.
To register or for more information, visit meditateincalgary.org/okotoks.
