One must bear in mind that there is a considerable difference between perfection and completeness…. The individual may strive after perfection, but must suffer from the opposite of his [or her] intentions for the sake of ….. completeness.
Jung
Category: Make the most of life
Letting go of perfection today
It is interesting being back in Ireland this December and seeing how Christmas is portrayed in advertisements. In today’s world there is a constant push toward self-improvement, towards presenting oneself perfectly and being seen in control of events. So we are encouraged to have the “perfect Christmas” by shopping in this store or by getting this product. This type of mentality gets us into a state of anticipation, of waiting, of thinking that things are transformed by getting this or changing that. We look forward to a special day or to the holidays, believing that it will somehow fix whatever out of balance in our lives. This drive can be almost overwhelming. However, there is never any such thing as a “perfect” Christmas, or a perfect holiday. It is better to recognize that lives and days are inevitably messy, a mix of good and bad, and to find our balance in that.
A lot of disappointed people have been left
standing on the street corner
waiting for the bus marked Perfection
Donald Kennedy
photo tinou bau
Sunday Quote: Where wisdom lies
Besides the noble art of getting things done,
there is the noble art of leaving things undone.
The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.
Lin Yutang, Chinese writer, 1895 – 1976
The importance of empty days
I always forget how important the empty days are, how important it may be sometimes not to expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal. A day when one has not pushed oneself to the limit seems a damaged damaging day, a sinful day. Not so! The most valuable thing one can do for the psyche, occasionally, is to let it rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room.
May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude
Developing inner resources
A full life is not made up of an uninterrupted succession of pleasant sensations, but really comes from transforming the way we understand and work through the challenges of our existence. Training our mind makes it not only possible to cope with mental toxins like hatred, obsession and fear that poison our existence…..but also gives us the inner resources to successfully face the highs and lows of life, without being distracted or broken by them, and allows us draw deep lessons from them.
Matthieu Ricard, The Art of Meditation
A way of seeing things today
By letting it go it all gets done.
The world is won by those who let it go.
But when you try and try.
The world is beyond the winning.
Lao Tzu
Mindfulbalance 