Being with What Is
I've been thinking a lot lately, ideas and notions passing through and coalescing underneath the skrim of daily life. One of the thoughts that keeps coming up in this initial time of shelter-in-place is about our practice of equanimity and flow.
A key element of mindful living is the practice of learning to be with what is, to accept and experience the present moment just as it is, just as you are.
The practice is to allow the reality of the moment. We practice releasing judgement, wanting things to be different than they are. We practice releasing the effort of trying to be in a past moment, changing what cannot be changed. We practice releasing the effort of trying to be in a future moment, knowing what cannot yet be known.
It isn't an easy practice. Judgement, regret, rumination, planning, and worry are some of our most familiar habits... or even hobbies. :)
And while it isn't easy, it is doable, little by little. We realize that we can choose our response to what is occurring, choose intentionally how we wish to show up in this moment. We can make small choices in each moment to roll with what is unfolding... to take in new information in the next moment... and to shift again. We find that we're surfing the waves of our lives.
And while it isn't easy, it is a path toward wellbeing. When we stop fighting reality, stop cursing the uncertainty, stop clawing our way into a peek at the as-yet-uncreated future, peace begins to blossom inside.
I've created some playlists of themed meditations that I've recorded over the past few years. Please explore, and I hope you find something helpful here.
This is my wish for each of us today: an experiencing, however brief, of this peaceful core that isn't so shaken by the storms. Peace within that abides and grows.
I wish you wellbeing,
Katie