Day 272 of 365 - The Power of Beginning
I've been thinking more about the eclipse cycle we are in, and the notion of new beginnings, of how I might envision the next phase of my life. Then, something I listened to, gave a good analogy for what is effective in helping us express our mastery in life and what is not.
That analogy comes from sport, but it could relate to any kind of skilled practice. Imagine, if you will, a golfer, hitting the ball and then gesturing or hollering in an attempt to influence its trajectory. It might feel cathartic, but it's not going to have any effect on the ball, right?
The influence on the path of the ball came, to a large extent, from the set up. It had to do with the choice of club, the stance, posture, movement pattern in the swing and the follow through. (I'm not a golfer, but you get the idea.) Most golfers, I think, have a sense pretty much as soon as the ball lifts off, whether or not it was a good shot.
It's all the skills they have practiced and integrated that lead to that sweet spot feeling of release and flow when a great shot is made. It's so reinforcing, they keep trying to repeat it! Likewise, in life, we keep getting new opportunities to begin again.
For me, this year, and perhaps for this next cycle of 'retirement years', whatever that means, one of the essence based changes I want to make, is to go more with the flow of life and less with rigid expectations and obligations. Though this may sound vague and wishy-washy, I know what it means to me. That's because I can imagine the feeling state difference between those two things.
After a lifetime of regimented scheduling of my days around calendars and 'to-do' lists, that is my comfort zone. My mastery and skill sets have developed around completing tasks. Give me a job to do, and I feel like I have a purpose.
But, I know there is also a mastery or skill set which can be developed, that would allow me to become comfortable with a more relaxed way of being. It's something I, ironically, need to ease into over time, so as not to upset the apple cart of my long held expectations about duty too much. If I can give the same kind of sedulous attention to ease and flow as I have given to regimented tasks, I may be able to open into it, to release my tight grip of control on life.
The reality in this later phase of life is that circumstances which feel like obstacles are very likely to come up. This may be things like physical limitations which occur, for example. It's the nature of an ageing body, despite best efforts. So, I would do well now to become more comfortable with stillness and appreciating the present moment, before life forces the issue in some way.
While I'm not talking about quitting my usual physical activities and self-care practices, I may shift some emphasis for example, to more meditative or contemplative activities. Generally, focusing more on mindfulness would be a good practice for me.
I'd kind of, like the golfer, to have a good sense of the set up, the wisdom and resources that will support me in easing comfortably into my senior years, whatever they may bring, and to eventually flow off into the wild blue yonder when it's all done. In the meantime, every day is a new beginning, a new opportunity to practice.
That analogy comes from sport, but it could relate to any kind of skilled practice. Imagine, if you will, a golfer, hitting the ball and then gesturing or hollering in an attempt to influence its trajectory. It might feel cathartic, but it's not going to have any effect on the ball, right?
The influence on the path of the ball came, to a large extent, from the set up. It had to do with the choice of club, the stance, posture, movement pattern in the swing and the follow through. (I'm not a golfer, but you get the idea.) Most golfers, I think, have a sense pretty much as soon as the ball lifts off, whether or not it was a good shot.
It's all the skills they have practiced and integrated that lead to that sweet spot feeling of release and flow when a great shot is made. It's so reinforcing, they keep trying to repeat it! Likewise, in life, we keep getting new opportunities to begin again.
For me, this year, and perhaps for this next cycle of 'retirement years', whatever that means, one of the essence based changes I want to make, is to go more with the flow of life and less with rigid expectations and obligations. Though this may sound vague and wishy-washy, I know what it means to me. That's because I can imagine the feeling state difference between those two things.
After a lifetime of regimented scheduling of my days around calendars and 'to-do' lists, that is my comfort zone. My mastery and skill sets have developed around completing tasks. Give me a job to do, and I feel like I have a purpose.
But, I know there is also a mastery or skill set which can be developed, that would allow me to become comfortable with a more relaxed way of being. It's something I, ironically, need to ease into over time, so as not to upset the apple cart of my long held expectations about duty too much. If I can give the same kind of sedulous attention to ease and flow as I have given to regimented tasks, I may be able to open into it, to release my tight grip of control on life.
The reality in this later phase of life is that circumstances which feel like obstacles are very likely to come up. This may be things like physical limitations which occur, for example. It's the nature of an ageing body, despite best efforts. So, I would do well now to become more comfortable with stillness and appreciating the present moment, before life forces the issue in some way.
While I'm not talking about quitting my usual physical activities and self-care practices, I may shift some emphasis for example, to more meditative or contemplative activities. Generally, focusing more on mindfulness would be a good practice for me.
I'd kind of, like the golfer, to have a good sense of the set up, the wisdom and resources that will support me in easing comfortably into my senior years, whatever they may bring, and to eventually flow off into the wild blue yonder when it's all done. In the meantime, every day is a new beginning, a new opportunity to practice.
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