Don't Just Do Something—Stand There!
Dear friends,
I find it quite interesting that whatever happens to be in front of us can often feel urgent and as though it's the best next thing to do. This is a very natural tendency but like many natural impulses (sweets, anyone?) it can get us into trouble.
Just because you happened to notice something now, doesn't mean it ought to be your current highest priority. It sometimes even needn't be dealt with at all. Slowing down is often right, and our impulse to forge ahead is often to just scratch an itch or simply get something off our mental to-do list.
I recently was given some information. It seemed like something that needed to be dealt with right away. But I have worked to try to train myself to slow down and consider things, even when it seems almost obvious. As it turns out there was another explanation for what had occurred and the action I was considering turned out to be unnecessary. Slowing down just a bit thus avoided a waste of time, expense, and several dislocations.
As always, taking a step back and calming the heart allowed for a more considered series of next steps. The agitated heart usually gets us into trouble. So rather than calming the heart by "fixing" the problem, a better approach is to calm the heart through breathing or meditation, taking a mental step back to gain perspective and/or sometimes just allowing a little time to pass.
This is of course not an exhortation to avoid dealing with what needs to be dealt with. But we cannot know what ought to be dealt with while we are on drugs! Tension, worry, fear, and annoyance are all drugs that could cloud the mind. Do whatever you feel to do, but have that feeling come from insight, intuition, and a calm heart. Things have a way of working out when that is our primary goal. And even if it appears they do not work as we would have liked, there is learning that follows, and a habit of calm that will stand us in good stead in any situation, urgent or not.
May we see the world unfolding around us as a constant joyful challenge, asking us to strengthen our inner peace regardless of the storms that may surround us. Each test is another few ounces on the barbell Spirit provides to us for our own highest good.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West