May All Your Paths Be Paved With Gold!
The whole technique, in terms of living, is the means of being aware, curiously aware and questioningly aware. Gregge Tiffen (The Language of A Mystic: Innovation, October, 2009)
Being aware brings a great deal of excitement, interest and joy to daily life. It can also bring moments of humbling truth.
In the midst of exploring a gnarly, conflict-filled situation with my coach, she asked a question with implications far beyond the event we were discussing. “Do you need the extremes, the conflict?” she inquired.
The answer in that moment for that event was a clear resounding ‘no’. Yet, as I suspected, the question had legs and would stay with me as I observed my thoughts and actions afterwards. Over the next several days as I put the event behind me, I was quickly aware of and mostly able to manage judgmental, conflict-oriented thoughts about the situation. And, I also noticed something else: other thoughts (more that I would like to admit) that engaged the themes of extremes, conflict and judgement. Ugh!
Beyond the ‘ugh’, I mustered some curiosity and began to notice even more. Some of my interest in conflict was energizing in a positive way. For example, seeing the extremes in the current Presidential race here in the U.S. can move me into action supporting the views that I believe in. That kind of engagement is rewarding in terms of self-expression and satisfaction.
But I also noticed a ‘dark’ side, other thought patterns that, while they may energize in the moment, actually drain my energy. These are thoughts that put my attention on others, on comparison, and judgement in a way that creates an atmosphere of conflict where none exists nor is it needed.
Discovering these stories and acknowledging that some offer the illusion that I am ‘better than’ another has been humbling. Seeing that they energize in ways that don’t serve me is a gift of that awareness.
From these discoveries I can release any dependence on this form of conflict to energize me. I can choose when to engage and explore ways to do so in alignment with my true nature. I can notice when these thoughts arise and create different ones. I can experiment and practice; then rinse and repeat.
I can be ‘curiously and questioningly aware’ and THAT is LIVING!
Nature's Beauty Abounds ...
Challenge for the week: Engage your curiosity and questioning to discover what among your many thought patterns serve you and which ones do not. Share your discoveries over on the blog site.
Early Morning Light and Beauty with Luke