A large degree of life happens independent of, and often contrary to, your expectations. At first this may seem dismaying, but as you develop more and more awareness, you eventually start to realize that carrying around this jumble of expectations in your head is a burden and that it gets in the way of being present in, and responding to, the life you have.
Phillip Moffitt, Emotional Chaos to Clarity
You do not need to know precisely what is happening,
or exactly where it is all going.
What you need, is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment,
and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.
Thomas Merton
photo: strobilomyces
First, come into the present. Flash on what’s happening with you right now. Be fully aware of your body, its energetic quality. Be aware of your thoughts and emotions.
Next, feel your heart, literally placing your hand on your chest if you find that helpful. This is a way of accepting yourself just as you are in that moment, a way of saying, “This is my experience right now, and it’s okay.”
Then, go into the next moment without any agenda
Pema Chodron, Living Beautifully
Our way is to practice one step at a time,
one breath at a time,
with no gaining idea
Suzuki Roshi
Awareness is our true self; it’s who we are. So we don’t have to try to develop awareness; we simply need to notice how we block awareness out with our thoughts, fantasies, opinions and our judgments. We’re either in awareness, which is our natural state, or we’re doing something else.
Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special
Photo Buddpaul
If you can’t see what you are looking for,
see what’s there.
It’s enough.
Mark Nepo
Photo Aka
