Despite my well-honed problem solving skills, I’ve discovered a whole slew of problems that aren’t really meant to be solved. Instead they seem to be journeys that must be traveled. Often these are journeys of pain and loss. Thankfully there are a few life hacks that seem to lessen the suffering and speed up the process of transformation.
We hear all the time that aging comes with increasing discomfort. But is it possible that it could be just the opposite? What if, as we age, we get increasingly skilled at transforming discomfort into ease? What if each year brings more ease and contentment?
There’s a deep wisdom to purging ourselves of 'stuff'. It is creating space for something new and vibrant to be birthed in the new year. I'm inspired to gaze deeply into the small and large things that I surround and fill myself with. What are the things that are taking up physical space in my life? What are the emotions and thoughts that fill my heart and mind? After all, if something is holding a space, there’s no room for anything else there.
There is no way of telling people that they are walking around shining like the sun. Thomas Merton
Non-striving (I call it non-doing) requires that we let go of our agendas and ideas of what has to happen. We still need to manage the details of our day-to-day life. But, as we master non-striving, the focus of life becomes more about our being and less about our doing.
Practicing patience in mindfulness calls for us to slow down. It requires that we watch, wait, and we observe the circumstances that are unfolding. The conditions of the unfolding then help to determine the right time to take action. This slowing down and practice of patience can be challenge, especially in fast-moving demands of everyday life.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt
Trust begins in our body When we pay attention to and trust what our bodies are telling us, we open ourselves to a well-spring of subtle information. Begin practicing trust by listening to your body. Listen to its tension. Listen to its aches, twitches, and impulses. Recognize and acknowledge what these hold for you in the moments throughout the day. What does your body communicate during difficult conversations, decisions, or interactions?
This week’s Mindfulness Monday focuses on Non-attachment. Attachment has its basis in desire – whatever the focus of that desire is. We acquire tangible property and ‘stuff’, or we experience attachment to a particular cherished ideal, relationship, or established ways of thinking. Most often we are not conscious of our attachment or the reason for it. Holding-on condemns us to living a constricted and imprisoned life. Think of a dog who is kept chained in a yard. He is not free to roam and explore as is his true nature. No chasing squirrels or birds. He can’t follow the scent of a favored human, or other pet. Instead, he is tightly tethered and forced into routine and conformity. He may be safe and out of trouble, but he is not exploring a world that is wide, open, and dynamic.
