Finding ease in the return
I’m tempted to open with “welcome back,” but I suppose I’d be directing the sentiment to myself after a long hiatus from this blog and a summer sabbatical from teaching. What I’m trying to say is: I’m happy to be here and connecting with you again!
Despite, there’s a part of me that is bracing for the return to a "regular" rhythm while another part of me acknowledges that I don’t actually know what my back-to-work rhythm will be like. As a result, the question I’ve been asking myself lately is: What would it feel like if it were easy?
I can't help but laugh to myself because it is a classic case of the two arrows! The “two arrows” analogy from the Buddha's teachings describes that while the first arrow (inevitable pain or unpleasantness) is unavoidable, the second arrow (our reaction to the first arrow) is optional. When I show up to a task expecting it to be hard or unpleasant, I’m likely to be looking for the ways that it is. You know, confirmation bias, and all that jazz.
So my practice lately has been to notice when I’m unnecessarily adding to an unpleasant experience, and to try widening my perspective to include the possibility of the thing being easeful, maybe even enjoyable.
On that note, may you enjoy whatever tasks are at hand today, may you bring some ease into them, and, as always, thank you for reading.
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