| We’ve just experienced the fall equinox, and here on the East Coast, we will be moving into shorter days and cooler weather. It is a time of transition and perhaps a time to adjust our daily routines.
Like other mammals, we may need more rest. Many of us are usually busy doing things, not simply being. If we’re not feeling productive, it can seem like something is wrong. I like to get things done too and have a long ‘to do’ list. But the older I get, the more I realize that without enough rest and reflection, creativity becomes harder to access. Most artists, writers, and other creative people need alone time: not lonely time, but solitude. In fact, when we are alone and engaged in working on our projects, we find the most fulfillment. When we can spend more time alone, our emotions, feelings, and memories have more space to arise, and we can channel them into creating something fresh. In the same way that our focus on creative projects can increase, we can also deepen our meditation practices. When we practice mindfulness, we lure our thoughts back to our bodies, our breath, our intuition, and away from distracting thoughts that often pull us away from our center. When we allow ourselves to feel that resting nature, with mind, inspiration, and the whole body–everything relaxed–there arises a special kind of attention that is very different from what we are used to. Our main aspiration is to be resting rather than following the perfectionistic habits of daily life that cause us to judge each thought that arises. –Dza Kilung Rinpoche Judging and seeking perfection often show up as the inner critic, the voice that tells us nothing is ever good enough. This voice impedes the freely flowing energy that we need to create. I find that when I can stay with my present state, focus on the breath and the body, a wellspring of emotion often comes to the surface, bringing new insights. Emotions and memories can get trapped in the body. But when we sit with them and acknowledge them, they can fuel our imagination and ingenuity. This season is a good time to slow down and look within. Embrace the change of seasons and the opportunities it brings. “Open the mind–really open it. Trust yourself; try to relax and be fully present; be inspired.” –Dza Kilung Rinpoche
|
|
|
