There’s a familiar saying: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” It captures the essence of our struggle – the desire for control and the inevitability of the unexpected. This week, let’s explore this conundrum with the guidance of Tara Brach, a renowned meditation teacher and psychologist.
As we take a look into our week ahead, here are a few thoughts that we might use to guide us:
“There are some things we can’t choose, but in being present we can choose how we want to relate to them.” – Tara Brach
“Mindfulness is a pause – the space between stimulus and response: that’s where choice lies.” – Tara Brach
“To flourish and keep evolving, we need to know how to make peace with the truth of uncertainty.” – Tara Brach
I like to create clarity for my week ahead. I like to look at what are the ‘known’ things coming up this week and mentally rehearse the outcomes that I would like.
We have to start with clarity. We have to know what we want or else, what would we base our response on even in those moments when we are able to find the space between stimulus and response?
Let me put it in a more descriptive way: if you don’t have a clear idea of where you are sailing to, how will you set your sails, what will you base your decisions on? How will you know to respond when the wind changes? We have to create for ourselves as much clarity as we can.
However no matter how much clarity we create, there is very little that we actually control, and we are always going to be confronted by uncertainty. Is that something that you can make peace with while you are doing your BEST to survive? – that no matter how hard you work and how much you plan, the wind will always be changing and you will always have to keep adjusting your sails?
Without clear intention, we don’t have direction. And without having acceptance of uncertainty, we cannot have peace.
This is my wish for you this week: can you start every day with clarity and clear intent, and can you also put your head on your pillow every night knowing that however the day turned out… is perfect!?
A few thoughts to help you stay on course this week:
- Start with Clarity. Define your goals and intentions. Where do you want to be at the end of this week? What experiences do you yearn for? Having a clear direction fuels your motivation.
- Embrace the Pause. Train your mind to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This space between stimulus and response allows for conscious choice.
- Welcome the Unexpected. View challenges as opportunities for growth. See detours as new adventures. Remember, sometimes the most beautiful destinations are the ones we stumble upon by chance.
- Let Go of Control. You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Accept that some things are simply out of your hands. Focus on what you can control – your thoughts, your actions, and your response to life’s unfolding journey.
- Find Peace in Every Moment. Regardless of how the day unfolds, there is always something to be grateful for. End your day with a sense of acceptance, acknowledging that every experience, planned or unplanned, contributes to your unique story.
This week, let’s cultivate a relationship with uncertainty. Let’s see it not as a threat, but as an invitation to be present, to be responsive, and ultimately, to find peace within the flow of life.
Wishing you a great week!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week!
(image credit: https://improvesailing.com/guides/average-sailboat-cost)