How to Hit the Reset Button

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ben White

By Jo Mooy

When emotions are spiraling out of control, it’s time to go within and meditate.

The morning was routine. Go to the refrigerator for a glass of water. Open the freezer for a few cubes of ice. There’s no ice.

“Did you turn off the ice maker?” I yelled.

“No! Why?” my partner replies.

A quick consultation ensued, followed by furrowed brows, and lots of digital buttons being pushed. Still nothing. No sound of a motor whirring, and no lights flashing error messages.

When there’s a question, I always go online. Google suggested that the “reset” button be pushed. Manuals were dragged out to find the reset button. It wasn’t in the book. Back to Google and then YouTube to find out the location of the reset button and what to do. Frustration escalated by the minute as every test was tried. The filter was clean. The water line not kinked. Still no reset.

Finally, a wise young man on YouTube suggested going to the electric box panel and resetting the entire refrigerator by switching off the power. Success and done! Patiently waiting for the familiar sound to come from the expected-to-be-healed ice maker, we are once again met with silence. My emotions go into overdrive. Frustration escalates to irritation, where it ungraciously meets panic because it’s Thanksgiving week and we need a working ice maker.

Our handyman says he can install a new ice maker, but we need to get the ice maker from the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s website replies, “We’re sorry, that part is no longer available!” (The refrigerator is only six years old and conveniently out of warranty by 11 months.) At this point panic has morphed into anger with a healthy dose of rage at the system, the manufacturer, and anybody living in a five-mile radius.

In a brief moment of clarity, we attempt to stop the self-indulgent emotional carnage by going for a two mile walk to calm the senses. It works. Walking outside is a natural pain reliever. Returning home, I contact the manufacturer via Facebook and get Nina, who asks how she can help. In one last burst of outrage I tell her the story. She asks for my name, the model and serial number of the refrigerator, and then she disappears. Three times I type, “Nina, are you there?” No reply.

I see a magazine open on the counter. My eyes are drawn to this paragraph which I highlighted in yellow a month ago. “What you do in the present moment can have an influence not only on the future, but also on what you are experiencing right now. Present actions can make all the difference between whether a past bad action leads to a lot of suffering right now or only a little.” The ice maker saga suddenly seems like a minor First World problem. “What’s the worst case I ask?” The answer is quick, “Let’s buy a bag of ice from Publix before Thanksgiving and worry about it later.” Right!

We decide to go meditate and deal with it another day. Ten minutes into the meditation, the routine of watching the breath go in and out the nostrils relaxes me. A noticeable calm falls over me. I continue the breathing practice when I “hear” a voice inside saying, “Do what you know how to do.” The voice continues, “Do you see how calm RESETS your being?” I intuitively understand the metaphor. Then I find myself in a genuine state of allowance. I no longer care about the ice maker or the results. I spend 40 minutes in a state of calm and peace disconnected from the previous conflict.

When the meditation is over I write “bag of ice” on the grocery list. I hear a ping on my computer. I click Facebook Messenger and there’s Nina. She asks me for my phone number and address. I give it to her and ask her why she needs it. Nina replies, “Jo, you are a long-time customer. As a courtesy, we are sending you a new ice maker. Here is your service call number.” I’m flabbergasted. After thanking her, I ask if I need to get a service guy to install it? She says, “No, we will schedule an authorized service technician to install it.” She ends with, “Happy Thanksgiving.”

No matter the spiritual teachings or training, the first reaction we often have to an unpleasant situation is generally emotional. Every one of us is guilty of those emotions spiraling out of control. The trick is to recognize what’s happening and change the direction of the thoughts or behavior. That too takes incredible discipline. And part of that discipline is doing daily meditation. For years, the benefits of that practice have been written about and taught by thousands. The scientific and psychological advantages are well-known, though it’s often not enough to compel others to do it. But there are even more important reasons to do this practice above all others. A daily meditation routine causes the insightful or intuitive benefits that occur to be delivered and experienced personally. The only way to receive those messages is, “To Do What You Know To Do.”

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to http://www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com.

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