Nature continually teaches me what it looks like to ‘be.’
As I go for my walks in the woods, I witness the changes season by season. The leaves have fallen, the air feels brisk, surroundings are quieter as nature seems to be turning inward, preparing to tuck in and rest for the winter months.
There is great wisdom here. The trees stand tall and strong, their leaves fallen and branches now mostly bare. There’s no resistance, no straining to keep the leaves on the branches, to hold on to something impermanent.
Each moment is new. Each breath is unlike the one before. Witnessing this is an opportunity and reminder for me to cultivate a similar mindset.
Letting our thoughts, emotions, circumstances, and people be as they are, is a moment-to-moment practice. Sometimes we find ourselves in flow, and other times not so much.
When we have change and uncertainty in our lives, it can be very upsetting to the part that likes to feel in control, the part that wants to change or fix what is happening or know precisely how things will play out.
The truth?
The only guarantee is there are no guarantees. As much as the ego hates to hear this, our willingness to be and allow things to unfold creates space for our true essence to shine forth. It is where our freedom lies.
"Just where you are - that’s the place to start!” Pema Chodron
I recently found myself meditating less and needing to be more focused. I had pain radiating to my shoulders and head for a few weeks. It was hard for me to focus on my meditation and daily tasks. So, I found myself meditating less, and when I did meditate, I noticed my mind was busier and wandering more than usual.
Sometimes I felt frustrated with this, and sometimes it was ok.
I did what I could for the pain, but ultimately it was out of my control. How my meditation went was out of my control.
If my mind was busy and unfocused, was my meditation a waste of time? Not at all.
For me, the intention to sit no matter what is the key.
Every meditation is different; these days, my meditation is about letting go of control.
When I first started meditating, I was super judgmental about my meditations. They had to be a certain way to be a ‘good meditation’, and just when I thought I was the perfect meditator, the next one would be ‘bad’…meaning I had more thoughts, or it didn’t feel as deep.
I was trying to control my experience rather than be with my experience.
I had focused on fixing myself, which over time, I realized was only preventing me from experiencing the peace I was longing for.
The difference now is that my motive for doing what I do has changed.
I still have a passion for growing, learning, and discovering the depth of Mystery within, but it’s not because of an underlying need to fix or change myself. A passion for the Truth drives it.
I meditate every day because it strengthens my mind, releases stress, and helps me be present, an observer, and connected to the truth.
Non-doing is the doorway to spiritual growth and true fulfillment.
It doesn’t mean we sit on the couch waiting for spiritual growth to happen; on the contrary.
It means we are practicing engaging in the moment and life without striving to change what is happening.
When we stop looking for things to change, we find peace.
What if we had the willingness to:
Stop
Feel and be with what is
Lean into our experience
Knowing that when we lean into our truth, we lean toward freedom.
I invite you to explore this without pressure or judgment. As much as you enjoy being in control, it feels great to let go of the reins and let things be.
All the best,
Diane