This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness
comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!...
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-Rumi
I don't know about you but I spend a lot of time wishing things were different in my life. Big things and small things. Wishing I had ordered something different at a cafe after tasting a friend's dish. Wishing my son would not be getting another cold this winter season. Wishing people would be different. Wishing I felt happier or more enthusiastic. Wishing there were less uncertainties in my life. The list could go on and on.
When you wish things were different it takes you away from the present moment. And when you aren't fully present, you are unable to appreciate what is or even be aware enough to shift situations through conscious choices and behavior.
Often times we feel dissatisfied with how things are in our lives because we are shooting for perfection. We compare ourselves, our lives, and others to images from movies, photos, or past experiences. This is a disservice to ourselves and those around us.
We have notions of how relationships SHOULD be, how our lives SHOULD be, how are children SHOULD behave, and how our bodies SHOULD look. No matter how hard we strive to achieve these perfections, we will often fall short. If we can lean back and inquire where we have come up with these unreachable standards, a softening will occur. We can can awaken to the understanding: (fill in the blank) is not "right" compared to what?
With this softening and openness to what what is present in our lives, we are liberated to be able to fully enjoy what is. Things that seemed insufficient previously now have a new taste. We can appreciate the complexity and multifacetedness of ourselves, our lives, and those around us.
Our lives will not be without messiness. Life is messy. There will still be depression, anger, grief, and boredom. But by radically accepting what is presented to us at any given moment, we will no longer be victims to outside circumstances...stuck wishing things were different. When we practice the art of radical acceptance and surrender to what is coming up for us, we will find that the "bad" things don't hang out as long. (Remember: what we resist, persists.) We will find that people are showing up for us, just the way we need them to. We will find our bodies are amazing and have their own unique beauty. We will feel more empowered to make the choices to invoke positive changes in our lives.
Stop wishing your life away. Radically accept all that arises and see what difference it makes in your life. I dare you.
With so much love,
xoxo
Nancy
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