Maybe a dull moment, or maybe a moment of calm, peace, acceptance and enjoyment of the now. Can these two opposing circumstances be mediated?
I’ve learned that my heart knows what’s best choice, because it beats with it, and that the choice can be different depending on the context. But I had primarily to learn that, breathing to the rhythm of my heart, and it took me a few years and I’m still learning.
I feel I am not a person seeking more, or better or different in material objects. I do however seek out new adventures and learning experiences. That is what brings me joy or simply helping someone who is in need.
When I read today’s quote from Parker Palmer: “Wholeness does not mean perfection. It means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life,”
And then today’s question: What happens when I stop seeking something more, better, or different? I found myself writing a short prose poem in response:
I realized several years ago that there is a difference between seeking and seeing.
I realized several years ago that faith is not about man-made (and I do mean man-made) dogma.
It is about trust.
I learned to trust Life and trust myself.
After all, I am Life. We are all Life.
So is every drop of water, blade of grass, mountain of stone.
When I stop seeking and started seeing, it took my breath away.
Every thing belongs. Even my brokenness belongs.
When I can take a breath and
contemplate contentment, letting
go of my desires for a minute, reminding
myself that I have everything that I need
and more, I can feel the tension release and
my mind slows down and I come back to
the present moment. Here in this moment
I can feel and see what is all around me, as
if a curtin is drawn back and the beauty of
this world is revealed.
Thank you for your comments. If I stop seeking more for my spiritual life, I would dry up. If I stop seeking more in my material life, my life simplifies.
I think that when you stop seeking you no longer are alive. Seeking something more, better or different does not make us self indulgent…it may just to be to make our life or someone else’s life better in some way…or we may just want to re-arrange our living room for something different. Or if we are caught on the merry go round of consumerism…and Stop…then maybe we will be able to see all that life offers without more- and recognize what we have is enough.
Society is so full of attention grabbers. Friends and family on social media sharing all their flashy new gear, cars, vacations, etc. I watch people toil at jobs they don’t like because they need that income to support what they consider to be “needs”. I work in a school. I work approximately 9 months a year. I don’t make big bank. I’ve never felt left out of what I call the “seeker loop”. There is magic to be discovered in my own yard. We have amazing libraries. I have time to cook meals full of love for my family. Who I am is enough. What we have as a family is enough.
I begin to appreciate what I have been bestowed. This gift of life. The gift of another day. That I have enough. I am enough. The maddening and out of control mantra of our consumer economy that preaches to the masses that if you would only purchase this or that, drink and eat this or that, go to this or that resort or take this or that medication, you will now be happy. The western world has become a land of M & M’s……..Me and More. A quote by Chaung-TZU has special meaning to me, “Happiness is the absence of striving for Happiness.”
While I get the intended, meaning of today’s question, there are other ways of approaching this question that are equally as valid. For example, if I stop seeking more of something, it can also indicate that I am giving up, and not interested in improving something I am seeking. I may seek more, additional funding, for a worthy project that serves and helps many people in need. In this situation wanting more is a worthy goal. Some of the daily questions that we receive, which I am grateful for, also tend to point at a specific way of answering them. For myself, I enjoy holding up some of our questions in a different light, and exploring where they take me.
Kevin, my husband and I just had the same conversation. As I mentioned earlier this week, I am recovering from a crash on my mountain bike. I want more flexion in my badly bruised knee. So I have to get after it every day, along with having deep appreciation for my ability/desire to do so, and for my progress. Enjoy this amazing day, Everyone.
Wishing you continued healing, Mary, and for your return to the sport that you love.
Oh, and this:
When I was a kid in the 1960’s I loved riding on trails with my bike. Back then, they didn’t have mountain bikes, but I had a heavy framed, balloon-tired single gear bike that was a beast on trails that easily out maneuvered my pals on their standard type bikes while out in the woods. Back then, nobody wore helmets, nor did we know if they even existed.
One day while riding ahead of my two friends on their bikes, I rounded a corner to see a 6 or 7 foot mound of gravel in the middle of the trail, and of course, rather than ride around it, I tore up that mound like nothing with my fatty tires, thinking my buddies wouldn’t dare to follow with their skinny tire bikes and frames. I even thought that I might catch “some air” going over the top, or at least yank my front wheel off the ground, but as I rounded the top, to my horror, I saw a giant hole where the gravel and dirt had come from, and with no way to stop I crashed into the hole, popping a tire, bending my frame and bruising my body and ego, as my friends rounded the mound, stopped, and stared at me down in the hole. And of course, once they knew I could stand up, they just laughed!
I later learned that the land owner had dug the hole on this trail to keep off-road vehicles out.
Kevin, you are a fine storyteller, thank you. I can picture this whole scenario unfolding! And I can feel your sense of freedom and adventure! What a shocker that hole must have been. Thanks for giving me a big smile today.
You can look at this two ways…
1. Life could become stagnant/boring/same old same old
2. Accept Life as is and be grateful.
more, better, or different does not imply better.
Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.
It’s easier to be happy with what is.
Maybe a dull moment, or maybe a moment of calm, peace, acceptance and enjoyment of the now. Can these two opposing circumstances be mediated?
I’ve learned that my heart knows what’s best choice, because it beats with it, and that the choice can be different depending on the context. But I had primarily to learn that, breathing to the rhythm of my heart, and it took me a few years and I’m still learning.
Guessing, an idea of being and becoming someone stops while in the mean time, being might get a chance to arrive.
I feel I am not a person seeking more, or better or different in material objects. I do however seek out new adventures and learning experiences. That is what brings me joy or simply helping someone who is in need.
When I read today’s quote from Parker Palmer: “Wholeness does not mean perfection. It means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life,”
And then today’s question: What happens when I stop seeking something more, better, or different? I found myself writing a short prose poem in response:
I realized several years ago that there is a difference between seeking and seeing.
I realized several years ago that faith is not about man-made (and I do mean man-made) dogma.
It is about trust.
I learned to trust Life and trust myself.
After all, I am Life. We are all Life.
So is every drop of water, blade of grass, mountain of stone.
When I stop seeking and started seeing, it took my breath away.
Every thing belongs. Even my brokenness belongs.
So true Carol. Thank you.
When I can take a breath and
contemplate contentment, letting
go of my desires for a minute, reminding
myself that I have everything that I need
and more, I can feel the tension release and
my mind slows down and I come back to
the present moment. Here in this moment
I can feel and see what is all around me, as
if a curtin is drawn back and the beauty of
this world is revealed.
Thank you for your comments. If I stop seeking more for my spiritual life, I would dry up. If I stop seeking more in my material life, my life simplifies.
very true – ‘If I stop seeking more for my spiritual life, I would dry up. If I stop seeking more in my material life, my life simplifies.’
Yram, profound…thank you.
I think that when you stop seeking you no longer are alive. Seeking something more, better or different does not make us self indulgent…it may just to be to make our life or someone else’s life better in some way…or we may just want to re-arrange our living room for something different. Or if we are caught on the merry go round of consumerism…and Stop…then maybe we will be able to see all that life offers without more- and recognize what we have is enough.
I appreciate and build upon what is, what I have – often without intent, leading to something greater than I initially sought.
Society is so full of attention grabbers. Friends and family on social media sharing all their flashy new gear, cars, vacations, etc. I watch people toil at jobs they don’t like because they need that income to support what they consider to be “needs”. I work in a school. I work approximately 9 months a year. I don’t make big bank. I’ve never felt left out of what I call the “seeker loop”. There is magic to be discovered in my own yard. We have amazing libraries. I have time to cook meals full of love for my family. Who I am is enough. What we have as a family is enough.
I can be fully here in the present moment.
I begin to appreciate what I have been bestowed. This gift of life. The gift of another day. That I have enough. I am enough. The maddening and out of control mantra of our consumer economy that preaches to the masses that if you would only purchase this or that, drink and eat this or that, go to this or that resort or take this or that medication, you will now be happy. The western world has become a land of M & M’s……..Me and More. A quote by Chaung-TZU has special meaning to me, “Happiness is the absence of striving for Happiness.”
A Land of M&M’s…Me and More…I call that a blinding glimpse of the obvious that it takes years to see but “Oh, what a relief it is!” 🙂
While I get the intended, meaning of today’s question, there are other ways of approaching this question that are equally as valid. For example, if I stop seeking more of something, it can also indicate that I am giving up, and not interested in improving something I am seeking. I may seek more, additional funding, for a worthy project that serves and helps many people in need. In this situation wanting more is a worthy goal. Some of the daily questions that we receive, which I am grateful for, also tend to point at a specific way of answering them. For myself, I enjoy holding up some of our questions in a different light, and exploring where they take me.
I often react as you do to the daily question, Kevin. Always appreciate how you articulate another perspective.
Kevin, my husband and I just had the same conversation. As I mentioned earlier this week, I am recovering from a crash on my mountain bike. I want more flexion in my badly bruised knee. So I have to get after it every day, along with having deep appreciation for my ability/desire to do so, and for my progress. Enjoy this amazing day, Everyone.
Wishing you continued healing, Mary, and for your return to the sport that you love.
Oh, and this:
When I was a kid in the 1960’s I loved riding on trails with my bike. Back then, they didn’t have mountain bikes, but I had a heavy framed, balloon-tired single gear bike that was a beast on trails that easily out maneuvered my pals on their standard type bikes while out in the woods. Back then, nobody wore helmets, nor did we know if they even existed.
One day while riding ahead of my two friends on their bikes, I rounded a corner to see a 6 or 7 foot mound of gravel in the middle of the trail, and of course, rather than ride around it, I tore up that mound like nothing with my fatty tires, thinking my buddies wouldn’t dare to follow with their skinny tire bikes and frames. I even thought that I might catch “some air” going over the top, or at least yank my front wheel off the ground, but as I rounded the top, to my horror, I saw a giant hole where the gravel and dirt had come from, and with no way to stop I crashed into the hole, popping a tire, bending my frame and bruising my body and ego, as my friends rounded the mound, stopped, and stared at me down in the hole. And of course, once they knew I could stand up, they just laughed!
I later learned that the land owner had dug the hole on this trail to keep off-road vehicles out.
Kevin, you are a fine storyteller, thank you. I can picture this whole scenario unfolding! And I can feel your sense of freedom and adventure! What a shocker that hole must have been. Thanks for giving me a big smile today.
The flip side of a question. Two sides to every story. I appreciate your response, Kevin.
Thanks, Joseph. And I loved your line, “M & M’s……..Me and More.” Pretty much says it all.
When I stop “seeking” and live gratefully, it is clear that I have all that I need….simple and easy.
You can look at this two ways…
1. Life could become stagnant/boring/same old same old
2. Accept Life as is and be grateful.
more, better, or different does not imply better.