Hi there Tushkateers*! One of the many magical, enlightening and transformative topics that was covered this week at my Omega Institute of Holistic Studies workshop, “Our Lady of Weight Loss enLIGHTens,” was about “Optional Suffering.”
There are two things that we do that make us miserable; that cause great suffering … optional suffering. The first is to judge; the second is to have expectations.
We are judging machines. I suspect that when you today pay attention to your thoughts and note each and every time you judge something (from … the coffee is good – to- oh no, it’s gray outside), you will find that there’s a whole lotta’ judging going on.
Just for today, we are invite you to experiment with us. Just for today, instead of labeling things ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ let’s just say, ‘it just is.‘
The number on the scale … ‘it just is.’ Your breakfast … ‘it just is.’ The state of affairs in the office … ‘it just is.’ It’s neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’; ‘it just is.’
If things are neither good nor bad; if things just are, you can’t be subjected to the push n’ pull, the ups n’ downs, the to and fros of good vs. bad. ‘It just is’ is a place of balance.
And in this place of balance you will not only learn to accept things the way that they are, but you will see things in an entirely new light and with it your expectations will dissipate into thin air!
You will no longer expect people to act in a certain way, for you to be a certain way; you will take things as they come and be content, because you will no longer be disappointed.
“When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.”
~Lao Tzu
Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice
*A Tushkateer is a member of the Kick in the Tush Club!
Beliefnet.com/Kick in the Tush Club Chapter!!!