Categories: thinking
Tags: musings, Opening Doors
Date: 18 January 2014 15:11:21
I'm continuing looking at Ruby Wax's tips for a "really Happy New Year", and thinking about how these might tie in with the work we've been doing at our Opening Doors follow up "meetings" (meetings in inverted commas for me, as I'm only there via Skype.)
Be Less Busy
We worship busy-ness but brain research shows that rather than it being a great accomplishment to be able to juggle, it may actually scramble your brain. Rather than being in "doing" mode all the time, have a go at being in "being" mode. I experience it when I'm scuba diving, but everyone feels this at some point: looking at a sunset, stroking a cat, a moment where time stops and you're experiencing something directly without the running commentary. In this mode the mind isn't flipping between the past and the future, it has nowhere to go, so it can start to settle
I talked about this a little last time I commented on Ruby's tips...and the time before that...which kind of makes me think that a lot of what Ms Wax is saying is quite repetitive in its goals. Still - less of this cynicism please!
Though I have to admit that I do need to practise this art of being not doing. I seldom pause meaningfully during my day, and this is something Ange is encouraging us to do. My last post refers to the 5:2:1 way of life that Ange is trying to encourage us to follow - unsuccessfully in my case! I keep saying "I'll start tomorrow...I just need to buy a nice book to record my feelings in...I haven't got time today but I really will start tomorrow..."
Part of my problem is allowing myself to let go, and not getting worked up if it doesn't go "right". this is why I haven't been very successful at my "SMASH" journalling, or my art/prayer journalling, or even my card making sometimes, because I feel these have to look "perfect" - or at least, I have to be satisfied and I rarely am very happy. My zentangle cat was an exception to that rule though. Here he is again (because I like to show off!) - except the wibsite aint playing ball with photos at the moment! Grr.
Why I can't accept that I'm just "having a go" I don't know: "good enough" is my mantra in many parts of my life, so why it isn't in others seems very strange. And anyway, how do you "do" pausing for a few seconds to ground oneself in a way that is considered as properly (or improperly for that matter!) I just need to do it (that's a rather ironic statement, if you look back at what I'm talking about!) Perhaps I should say I just have to be it!!