Thoughts

So, here we are, in the right here and right now of ordinary life.  Have you ever noticed the thinking involved in the ordinary life?  Here's a small sampling I've recently encountered with ordinariness and its thinking.  

I fell down this past week, playing pickleball of all things, prompting a trip to urgent care to rule out a fracture and I’m noticing a “what if” thought story.  In order to allow healing for my wrist the bed has remained unmade for the past five days and chores have been greatly reduced; a “you should” thought appears.  Two weeks and counting on a lab report from the dermatologist’s office and sensing an “if only they were more efficient” thought.  An adorable bunny fell into the pool meeting its demise and an awareness that all is connected creates a pain in my heart.  My mom and I hold opposing political views creating interesting conversation…or not and noticing an “us vs. them” commentary in my mind.  There’s a monthly Zoom group I try to participate in but can never seem to get it together due to the time difference, I notice a “what will people think” story.     

The above sampling represents ordinary life circumstances not uncommon to us all.  Yet, all these ordinary events held the opportunity to notice the underlying thoughts.  Picking up on our theme from the last blog, the ordinary events provide the substance for the practice of noticing and, while it does take practice, it is possible to take the ordinary and begin noticing.  From my perspective it does no good, meaning there is no opportunity for growth, if I am unaware of myself, my thoughts, emotions and reactions in such ordinary situations.  

To be aware means that there is a realization about the thinking and ruminating and to recognize that such thinking and ruminating can go on for hours, days, months, and, yes, even years.  You can see that the above events came with a thought-story but with the choice to notice the thought or story an opportunity arose to discover what the thoughts or stories were about.  For instance, the above thought of  “what will people think” provided an opportunity to interiorly explore what is really driving that story such as needing the approval of others.  I can now continue the interior work further discovering what actually prompts this need.  I will not lie, this interior exploring can be painful work, but it is also liberating work and we are in need of such liberation.  

So, for today, let’s practice noticing all the stories flying and filling our minds.  And, for today, it is enough to just notice; no judgement or analysis needed.  When we begin to notice we begin to see how the thoughts and stories are always informing us.  Please leave any comments, questions or ponderings below or contact me directly.    

 Peace, light and love to you on this ordinary day.