Wednesday 14 October 2015
What's special about today? I'm ready.
If there is any practice that keeps recommending itself to me it is to slow down and wake up.
It is the recurring stress, failure, and numbness that flow out of automatic, unconscious living that drives me back to this practice. But I am motivated to commit in a much more intentional way than ever before.
There are several kinds of activities that are improved by the efficiencies of automatic action: driving a car, my work as a carpet cleaner, brushing my teeth. But even these can be improved by slowing down, with no measurable loss of time or effectiveness. I've experienced these benefits.
But the vast majority of the things that I do will be improved by slowing down and waking up. Well, at least, I think so, we'll find out.
I assume that the what, how, and when I do things like eat, watch Tele, or decide anything, will be effected by slowing down and waking up.
The voice in my head/heart that keeps inviting me into this practice is very calm, kind, and confident. It feels as if it has my best interest in mind.
Frankly, I'm tired of being pushed around by the internal busy-body that seems to have no agenda, accept getting done, and moving on to the next thing. I sense that this voice might also care about appearances and be driven by fear.
Afraid of what? I suspect that the busy-body is afraid of emptiness, exposure, existential uncertainties. Human stuff. But I won't find out the particulars of my shadowy fears until I slow down and wake up, effectively welcoming the unknown.
I invite you into this "adventure" because it won't be easy and I could use the encouragement, but also in the hope that you will find something in my experience that will awaken your heart and mind.
Writing has always been a way that I explore and process my experiences. And even, I suppose, a way to slow down and wake up.
A semi-daily blog is a way to invite your aid and use my writing practice as an anchor.
Riding the brakes...
What's special about today? I'm ready.
If there is any practice that keeps recommending itself to me it is to slow down and wake up.
It is the recurring stress, failure, and numbness that flow out of automatic, unconscious living that drives me back to this practice. But I am motivated to commit in a much more intentional way than ever before.
There are several kinds of activities that are improved by the efficiencies of automatic action: driving a car, my work as a carpet cleaner, brushing my teeth. But even these can be improved by slowing down, with no measurable loss of time or effectiveness. I've experienced these benefits.
But the vast majority of the things that I do will be improved by slowing down and waking up. Well, at least, I think so, we'll find out.
I assume that the what, how, and when I do things like eat, watch Tele, or decide anything, will be effected by slowing down and waking up.
The voice in my head/heart that keeps inviting me into this practice is very calm, kind, and confident. It feels as if it has my best interest in mind.
Frankly, I'm tired of being pushed around by the internal busy-body that seems to have no agenda, accept getting done, and moving on to the next thing. I sense that this voice might also care about appearances and be driven by fear.
Afraid of what? I suspect that the busy-body is afraid of emptiness, exposure, existential uncertainties. Human stuff. But I won't find out the particulars of my shadowy fears until I slow down and wake up, effectively welcoming the unknown.
I invite you into this "adventure" because it won't be easy and I could use the encouragement, but also in the hope that you will find something in my experience that will awaken your heart and mind.
Writing has always been a way that I explore and process my experiences. And even, I suppose, a way to slow down and wake up.
A semi-daily blog is a way to invite your aid and use my writing practice as an anchor.
Riding the brakes...
