Chasing Problems

I’m often focused on what I want to correct in myself. What’s wrong with me? What could be better? There’s a lot of judgment in that. And of course problems are nearly endless. I’m good at finding what’s wrong.  

Jack Kornfield tells a story of a person meditating. At first the sound of a person’s breathing meditate snared them, interrupting their perfect meditation. Next it was a noisy radiator in the room that interrupted them. Each interruption, each problem blocking their mindfulness, they reported to their teacher. In the next meditation session the cars passing on the busy road outside the room were the problems. Having heard about each problem and now the passing cars the teacher asked; “Are the cars coming into the room to bother you, or are you going out to the road to be bothered by them? 

I’m suspicious the way I worry about my flaws and problems may be like that.