Do we notice what we say, do and think in a day? Where  we spend our time, energy and resources  tells us what we value.  Do our actions, words and thoughts impact our world, our family, our experiences? Often we hear we want the world to change, yet somehow that can seem beyond our control or influence. Yet lately it feels the world has stopped business as usual, maybe in order for us to take the time to look and see what is and is not working for our human world.

Whether we choose to be intentional or unintentional with our time, thoughts, energy and resources it is doubtful our world can be as it was before. What is the world we want to be part? Many of us had the illusion the world we lived in matched more closely what Disney movies showed us. Yet we are starting to better see that Disney movies hardly resembled anyone’s truth. Yet in seeing there has been a bigger underbelly than we fully realized, we also acknowledge it is now seeing the light of day. And it can feel like chaos. And with the light and chaos comes opportunity.

We can choose to be part of moving this “ship” around to better reflect what we want more of in this world. And we need be honest too in noticing how we could choose  words, thoughts and actions to better support the world we say we want. We do have an impact.

“A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will. ” -Proverb

In these uncertain times, changing our minds might be the way to change the world to be one that works for everyone. As we are physical distancing and sheltering in place, we have a different kind of  time on our hands. Maybe we are noticing more of who and what is around us. We might be more and more aware every day how the world has not been working for our families, ourselves and those marginalized including the hungry, homeless and sick among us. Maybe we saw it but weren’t sure what to do or how to help. We were overwhelmed. Systems were in place and clearly not working. And now everything has stopped. S T O P P E D.

Yet every system, procedure, even belief we have was imagined or told to us by a person. We can re-examine everything. Man-made systems, rules, laws, institutions, policies etc. And when they don’t work or no longer work, we can change them. With new thinking and the will to follow through we can change our minds and change our lives. At the  micro and macro levels.  We often try hard to change a person or a system rather than ourselves but far easier to change ourselves for  long range change. Now we have the time to contemplate what we need, can do and can think differently about in order to have the relationships, communities and kinder world we say we want.

“Recognizing the power of our minds means that even as unfortunate or terrible things happen to us, we can receive them in a more spacious and ultimately more enlightened way. The Budda taught his students to develop a power of love so strong that the mind becomes like space that cannot be tainted. If someone throws paint, it is not the air that will change color. Space will not hold the paint; it will not grasp it in any way. Only the walls, the barriers to space, can be affected by the paint.”

quoted from Lovingkindness (page 122) by Sharon Salzberg 

Sharing a quote from Sharon Salzberg’s book, “Lovingkindness”, reflecting on the gift of equanimity.

To have the radiant calm and unswayed balance of mind that we call equanimity is to be like the earth. All kinds of things are cast upon the earth: beautiful and ugly things, frightful and lovable things, common and extraordinary things. The earth receives it all and quietly sustains its own integrity. 

It is a state of peace to be able to accept things as they are. This is to be at home in our own lives. We see that this universe is much too big to hold on to, but it is the perfect size for letting go. Our hearts and minds can become that big, and we can actually let go. This is the gift of equanimity. 

“Put yourself in situations where you thrive.”

What a lovely mantra, or check-in for oneself to take stock, especially in confusing times.  The word to thrive means to flourish or to grow vigorously. We want our plants to thrive. Have we been thinking of thriving in terms of ourselves, our children, the situations we find ourselves? What would thriving feel like? Look like? Do we thrive in certain landscapes or geographies or settings more so than others?

Thriving sounds like it has energy, that the feeling and signs of thriving would be unmistakeable. Why not ask oneself in a time of doubt or confusion, “Am I thriving right now? Do I want to? What do I need to do to thrive?”

Maybe we are thriving and hadn’t thought in those terms before.  Maybe with a slight tweak or the confidence to make a change we could be thriving. Or we now will be on the lookout for situations where we can thrive and make choosing that a priority.

WOW! 2020. A New Decade!

Sometimes when we approach a fresh adventure, or the beginning of something new, some of us make vision boards. Have you ever made a vision board? It is a creative opportunity to prepare for “new beginnings”  giving thought to what we want for the year or months ahead. At the end of our western calendar year is one opportunity for reflection as we head into a new year and now, a new decade.

There are multiple ways to approach creating a vision board including making it a social time with friends, and together we each work on our own vision board.  Maybe we use a piece of art board as the surface, or a cork board and pin rather than glue, or even use an old picture frame. Some of us like casual, some of us make works of art. Gathering magazines, words, cut outs, certain items collected, whatever materials and messages resonate with us as we think about or visualize our vision for ourselves and our life moving forward. Then we cut, paste, organize pictures and photos based on a what we imagine and want for ourselves. And if the future looks like a clean slate, then maybe there is very little on the vision board, leaving room for what will come.

2020 feels like big year.  Maybe even pivotal for many of us on this earth. Why not take time to vision what we want more of, for and from ourselves this year? And for our loved ones and for our communities.  Who doesn’t want 2020 Vision ? (the joke of the year no doubt.)

Happy New Decade. Vision well.