Simplicity

“Enough. These few words are enough.

If not these words, this breath.

If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to life…”

- David Whyte

In our complex and busy lives, we may ask a lot of ourselves. Tending to work, family, household chores. It's true: there's much to do. Even in our downtime, we may keep busy: our hands restlessly tidying or scrolling the phone; our thoughts occupied with planning or worrying. "Doing" is a hard habit to break. When we pause to be still, as we do with mindfulness practice, we may notice resistance: perhaps an impulse to get up, an urgent thought ("I should answer that email!"), or a feeling of guilt for "not doing enough."

But what if being here is enough?

You've likely seen for yourself how many "to-dos" can actually wait - and how there can be value in setting them aside to meditate, or be present with a friend, or appreciate a cup of tea. What do you notice when you step back from the pull of doing? When you loosen your grip, releasing those things that aren't needed in this moment?

You may find that this moment is enough, just as it is. Nothing needs to be done, right now. The mind can rest its busy work. And from that place of simple presence - less doing, more being - you may be surprised what comes.

This week, for instance, I was feeling stuck. I usually have a seed of an idea for our blog, but my first seed wouldn't grow. I tried another. It lay there like a piece of lead. To proceed felt like heavy work - too much to do. As I sat with this feeling, a thought arose. What about "simplicity," I thought? Yes, I felt relief. Yes, I don’t have to do much at all. Then, unexpectedly, the ideas started flowing.

How interesting that when we give ourselves permission to do less, insight and creativity can spontaneously emerge.

In our next Mindfulness & Creativity session, we’ll keep things simple. There will be nowhere to get to, and nothing to achieve or figure out. Even so, we might notice how this habit of striving shows up in our practice, perhaps in working hard to be a "good" meditator or to get "the most" out of our practice. We'll be kind with these striving parts of ourselves, and invite them to work a little less. We'll explore what it's like to rest in awareness, meeting each moment as it unfolds.

We may find it’s enough to be here, just as we are.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Hannah