Day 193 of 365 - Chop Wood, Carry Water
Let's face it. Most of the time, our daily living is about routine and repetition. As much as we may crave, or say we want change or more excitement in our lives, to a certain extent, we very much thrive on routine.
This is because we are basically wired for survival and for homeostasis, or maintaining a predictable balance in the functioning of our brain and body. So, even though it's Monday, and we might grumble about getting back into the same old routines, deep down we find comfort in the reliability of them.
When something untoward and unexpected happens, one of the first ways we go about comforting ourselves, once the excitement and drama abates, is to fall into a familiar routine.
If we make a decision to create some change in our life, at any level, it is more likely to happen and to be sustained, if we do it in a gradual way. It's more readily accepted at the level of our ego and our nervous system when little steps can be incorporated somehow into our existing daily routines.
That is why it's called a practice. We need to keep practicing things, over and over, to develop new learning and wisdom. We can certainly rely on and ask for the support of those who have previously found wisdom before us. They can guide us in our steps and cheer us on.
Should we decide to dive in wholeheartedly into a big change without adequate preparation, it is less likely to stick. We'll be more likely to be easily upset or challenged by obstacles that arise. Think about how we don't like sudden, unplanned changes and the repercussions that come from them. There may be silver linings and blessings in disguise, but in the moment, we long for predictability and the ordinary.
The routine and the ordinary are not always boring either. There can be many little delights and surprises which pop up as we chop our wood and carry our water. We are not flying solo here in this lifetime. We are very much interconnected with all that surrounds us.
So, don't feel disappointed about resuming your Monday routines. You just never know what your familiar activities may bring your way today. Be open to the idea that there is opportunity available even in the mundane aspects of life. It's a blessing to be here, and to be able to practice.
This is because we are basically wired for survival and for homeostasis, or maintaining a predictable balance in the functioning of our brain and body. So, even though it's Monday, and we might grumble about getting back into the same old routines, deep down we find comfort in the reliability of them.
When something untoward and unexpected happens, one of the first ways we go about comforting ourselves, once the excitement and drama abates, is to fall into a familiar routine.
If we make a decision to create some change in our life, at any level, it is more likely to happen and to be sustained, if we do it in a gradual way. It's more readily accepted at the level of our ego and our nervous system when little steps can be incorporated somehow into our existing daily routines.
That is why it's called a practice. We need to keep practicing things, over and over, to develop new learning and wisdom. We can certainly rely on and ask for the support of those who have previously found wisdom before us. They can guide us in our steps and cheer us on.
Should we decide to dive in wholeheartedly into a big change without adequate preparation, it is less likely to stick. We'll be more likely to be easily upset or challenged by obstacles that arise. Think about how we don't like sudden, unplanned changes and the repercussions that come from them. There may be silver linings and blessings in disguise, but in the moment, we long for predictability and the ordinary.
The routine and the ordinary are not always boring either. There can be many little delights and surprises which pop up as we chop our wood and carry our water. We are not flying solo here in this lifetime. We are very much interconnected with all that surrounds us.
So, don't feel disappointed about resuming your Monday routines. You just never know what your familiar activities may bring your way today. Be open to the idea that there is opportunity available even in the mundane aspects of life. It's a blessing to be here, and to be able to practice.
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