Stand Porter at the Door of Thought.

Last week, I completed a four day trek through the Peruvian Andes, covering 35 miles and ascending up to 15,000 feet.

But… let me tell you…. as I leaned on my trekking poles, catching my breath and straining my neck to stare up at the glacier above of me, I began to wonder… why the heck was I doing this?!?

And that’s when my mind drifted back to the dinner conversation from the night before. 

Sitting around the wobbly, wooden table in a lean-to shed, enjoying a gourmet meal (yes, our cooking crew and guides were amazing) someone brought up the subject of the religion in which I was raised, Christian Science.

At first, my brother (who was sitting next to me) and I fielded the typical questions whenever our childhood religion is mentioned, “Is it true you don’t go to doctors? Is it true you don’t take medicine? Is it the same religion as Tom Cruise?” And for the record, no, it’s NOT Scientology! 

Overall, Christian Science is a metaphysical philosophy that believes in the power of self-healing; instilling the idea that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, not the other way around.

As a young child, I was encouraged to meet negative thoughts like, “I can’t” with spiritual thoughts like, “I am full of limitless, divine ability.”

In other words, I was taught positive affirmations at a very young age.

And these were the tools I called on as I slowly made my way up the mountain.

Sitting around the dinner table, I was reminded of a Sunday School activity where we would “Stand porter at the door of thought” Literally. 

We’d stand in a doorway and practice not letting fear-based, negative thoughts through, while only allowing spiritual thoughts to come in.

This taught discernment. This taught mindfulness. This taught power and control over the monkey mind that runs rampant telling stories that aren’t true about who we are and what we can or can’t achieve.

So, while I have grown away from associating with any formal religion, those roots run deep and have helped me grow stronger.

So I offer you this practice: 

The practice of standing porter at the door of thought 

in your own mind.

Next time you’re dealing with any sort of struggle, ask yourself, “Is this thought serving me? Is this thought helpful? Is this thought True? Like really, really True with a capital T?” And then decide if you want to welcome it through the door or not.