When I run, a recurring thought might arise that points towards a certain aversion, a certain struggle or difficulty I’m experiencing in my life. It might be a problem at work, a relationship issue, or an emotional challenge. When I notice the thought and the emotion that comes with it, a gap emerges, sort of a space for choice: I can either run away from the difficulty or run with it.

If I’m unaware of the thoughts that arise, I automatically run away from the difficulty and, through the act of running, I might try to escape the problem, imagining that by distancing myself from it, I can find relief or clarity. However, this often leads to avoidance rather than resolution.

Have you ever had this experience?

When I “run with” the difficulty, I notice that the difficulty arises from a an entanglement of thoughts, feelings and sensations that ebb and flow. I also notice and feel my body moving through space, and I notice my breath and the environment around me. This style of meditation is a form of open awareness in motion, where I allow myself to be present with the difficulty, to feel it fully without judgment or resistance. 

And so, the struggle dissipates.