Merete Myklebust
I was born in 1966 in Valldal, but have been living most parts of my adult life elsewhere. My last stop was in Copenhagen where I was educated Id-psychotherapist with Ole Vadum Dahl. This is an integrative, body- and conversation-based form of therapy, which I finished in 2009. I also took additional training in groupcoaching with psychologist Henrik Juul and body therapist Liv Dhanyo Thommesen. During my 4 years in Denmark meditation and mindfulness became part of my daily practice. It was also at this time that I got to know psychotherapist and teacher in meditation and consciousness Margit Madhurima Rigtrup, who I am deeply grateful to have had the chance to know and whom I also follow today. The main message of her teaching is that our minds often lead us out of the right track and therefore leads to suffering, while tuning in to our hearts is the way to find that which is more solid, true, and genuine.
Originally I was educated in nutrition technology and I have been working in both private and public enterprises. The last years I have mainly worked in psychiatric institutions. I now lead evening classes in meditation, and offer stress reduction courses to individuals and companies. In Valldal I arrange meditative walks. The nursery for plants where I grew up is being transformed into a garden for people who wish to get to know themselves better and find their until now undiscovered potential, receive help to handle their life in a more life confirming way, and those who seek inner silence and tranquility.
«What you cultivate will grow», is a saying that I find to be true, and not only in the life of plants. You may grow your sorrows and discontent with everything that doesn’t respond to your expectations in life, but you may also train yourself to see all that which is life confirming and healthy, and let those things grow to become a greater part of your life. Therapy and meditation will help you in this process. I practice meditation and mindfulness every day and it helps me to remain in contact with myself and give the right direction of my life. It calms my thoughts, and tells me what is going on in my mind, and thereby helps me to notice what I want to spend my time and energy doing. And it is important to remember that meditation is not supposed to be yet another thing you just «have to do», but a space for relaxation and just enjoy being. It is actually in this silence that most things «happen», where life can just unfold itself.
It is easy to get lost in the trap thinking that life is supposed to be hard and only walking uphill, and many of us can feel guilty if we just relax and enjoy life. My experience is that it really doesn’t take much effort to gain an extra spirit in your daily life. It is all about embracing the moment and being present with yourself and with whatever you do. Putting some «commas» or micro pauses into your daily routine can really give you that little extra energy you miss. That doesn’t necessarily mean meditation. It can be doing everything from dancing on your kitchen floor to joyful rhythms from the radio, going for a walk in the forest, or down by the river, give yourself enough time or just let go and «be» without doing anything in particular. There are plenty of ways to embrace the moment and become more mindful, and the only «danger» is that you may get addicted!
I have also become more aware of how important it is for us to spend time in, and value, the nature that surrounds us. We cannot exist without it, and we are a part of nature as much as nature is a part of us.
Merete
