Just As It Is
Good Morning,
I have had a long night of pain and sleeplessness. My pain reminds me that not everything in our life is considered pleasant and yet it is very much a real part of life. Our challenge is to accept these unpleasant moments as part of the normal cycle of things. I know many people try to see the positive in every situation. I also know many people just try to have a "good day" (the have a nice day syndrome), but in both cases we are missing the point.
By simply glossing over the unpleasant experiences we are not really experiencing them (or learning from them), we are trying to make them something else, something easier to swallow. A dear friend of mine has told me on more than one occasion that the only thing getting her through her days now is the thought of her upcoming vacation in the summer. This could be all well and fine, but I fear she may be missing the beauty and joy of right now (the moment). How odd it seems to write off several months of days and moments just to get to one week of days and moments she does enjoy. One quick look would show that it is simply a frame of mind that makes those days better than the current ones. In fact my friend could be on vacation everyday if she chose to see it that way. Yes it is tough, but it is all simply a matter of how we choose to see the world.
This brings me to the thought for the day:
Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience.
It isn't more complicated than that.
It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is,
without either clinging to it or rejecting it.
It isn't more complicated than that.
It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is,
without either clinging to it or rejecting it.
There is nothing more romantic, attractive or false than the ways we trick ourselves into getting through our days.
The trick is not to get THROUGH your day but to LIVE your day.
Sylvia Boorstein
Sylvia Boorstein
Have a great day and may we each find the strength to make everyday one of our greatest!
Peace and Love, Jim
www.thedailybuddha.com
posted by The Daily Buddha at 8:45 AM
4 Comments:
Looking forward to something special like a vacation is not all bad. While it may be that they are using it to get from day to day as a crutch, it's something that they are look forward to obtaining - almost like a goal.
Now, if they say that it's the only thing to get them through the day, then you are right, they are not looking at things in a positive light - and could be missing some important events that are currently surrouding thier life.
However, a change of scenery and a brief change of life style never hurt anyone (nor did a little drink here and there) Vactions free the mind! :)
this isnt really a comment, but more of a suggestion for the blog:
each blog entry needs a more meaningful title so that if someone needs a specific enlightnement for the day they can choose one relevant. plus it makes them easier to identify.
keep up the great work!
The Key To Happiness I recently came across this Yahoo article that talks about how researchers have found the key to happiness.
Looking forward to things in itself is not a bad thing (is anything truly good or bad?) we all have desires and look forward to events in our lives.
The problem (if their is one) comes from trying to be aware and in the moment. Are things (currently) always so bad in our present lives that we find it easier (more pleasurable) to live in the past or the future? What does this say about our current life?
I do not mean to say looking forward to a vacation is bad., what we must be aware of is living day to day for that vacation. If we trudge through our day for small rewards at the end of it all, then i ask again, what does that say about our current life?
As long as we face and understand the truth of the moment, that our happiness does not lie in the vacation itself, then we are being mindful. If we go through our weeks only to get to the weekend, then are we not missing huge parts of our waking life?
My comments were never mean't to be pointed, they are simply observations from someone trying to shatter the illusons he has lived in for so long.
As always, Peace and Love my Friend.
Post a Comment
<< Home