Uncertainty, doubt, hesitation.
How often are we plagued by these maladies? How often to they
influence our path or lead us astray?
How often do we find ourselves waiting? Waiting for the right time,
the right conditions. Waiting to get picked or promoted, or told what to
do.
Uncertainty hides in the shadows of our intention. When we encounter
it, we often step out of our posture, or move for the small reprieve it gives
us. We may try to stay busy, reach for distraction, or entertain the
discomfort away just so we can feel normal again.
In uncertain times we yearn for control. We wonder about our future,
the future of our family and loved ones, the future of our community and world. We spend sleepless nights caught up in the
cycle of hope and fear, playing out dramas of gain and loss, praise and
shame.
But uncertainty really prevents us from moving forward. Our intention may be strong, but we lack the
focus to carry it through. Our intention may be clear, but we don't feel
we have the power to carry it out.
Sitting with uncertainty may be the most powerful thing you can do.
Face the resistance.
Don't avert your eyes.
Don't turn from it.
Don't waver.
Just sit.
Donning the armor of patience,
With the sharp sword of mindfulness,
and all the grit you can muster,
breakthrough to openness, clarity and insight.
Then step forward with generosity, kindness and love.
Clarify your practice. Let your practice clarify you.
Showing posts with label waiting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waiting. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Deliberation.
It is important to have a strong intention in your practice. To have a clear focus. To be resolute, deliberate.
Watch your mind carefully though. Watch its undercurrents and the way you actually engage with the world, because being deliberate in your practice can often take the form of deliberation.
Deliberation is a waiting room.
It is hesitation, over conceptualization and theoretical idealism. It is waiting for the right circumstances, the right time, the right signs or omens. It is waiting for confirmation, or approval, or recognition. It is waiting for the right answer or the directions, a map with everything clearly marked.
Just waiting. And waiting is not the practice.
The practice is to walk through the door. To deliberately go in the face of uncertainty. To deliberately go, even when things aren't just right.
Watch your mind carefully though. Watch its undercurrents and the way you actually engage with the world, because being deliberate in your practice can often take the form of deliberation.
Deliberation is a waiting room.
It is hesitation, over conceptualization and theoretical idealism. It is waiting for the right circumstances, the right time, the right signs or omens. It is waiting for confirmation, or approval, or recognition. It is waiting for the right answer or the directions, a map with everything clearly marked.
Just waiting. And waiting is not the practice.
The practice is to walk through the door. To deliberately go in the face of uncertainty. To deliberately go, even when things aren't just right.
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