I send out an email every Wednesday about what I’m noticing in my Mindfulness practice. Then every Friday I make a quick video exploring the weeks topic a bit more.
This week I was looking at energy levels. I had written in last week’s email that I had given up sugar and things like that (which I still have). And about how much better my energy levels were, and my concentration also.
And then, of course, this week I found myself completely flat! On Tuesday morning I was exhausted. After writing about how my energy was great:)
So, Tuesday morning I had really low energy. I was driving into work and I caught myself thinking – “It shouldn’t be like this”, “What’s happening” and basically wanting things to be different.
And I even had the thought, “I’ll have another cup of coffee”. I wanted things to be different, I wanted to change things.
But I caught myself and became aware that this is a really ripe moment for Mindfulness practice. Instead of pushing against things, pausing to look directly at them.
As I was driving I had a look to see “What’s this tiredness really like”? What is this?
And I could see sleepiness. And I looked to see what else was there. And I could see contentment – like “I’m sleepy, but I feel kind of content”.
It actually was kind of fine, it wasn’t that big of a deal. So I ended up going about the day without trying to change things. And I was tired for the day. But that didn’t really matter at all. I had a really nice day.
It struck me that sometimes we have real challenges, like feeling tired. But then trying to fight against that, and wishing it to be different is actually a bigger obstacle, we create the bigger problem.
Sometimes just accepting, “ahh this is the way I am right now”. That’s easier.
Until next time,
Keith
