Image from Pixabay (public domain)
Back in December I posted a link to Susannah Conway’s Unravelling workbook, an excellent, in depth way to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the next. Sandra (from Reflections and Nature) wrote:
All the elements of the right mindset sound good, but I’m a little perplexed as to how one can plan the year ahead when each day beyond this moment, is a mystery waiting to be lived as it presents itself to us. Of course, our work has to be planned and maybe holidays if we are fortunate enough to take them, but the rest is just a day to day adaptation of the way life unravels without any intervention from us. What are your thoughts on this?
Great question.
I replied to Sandra that it was interesting that she spoke of how life unravels when Susannah’s workbook is called “Unravelling the Year Ahead.” It is about looking back with self-awareness – what worked and what didn’t – and looking ahead to focus on what’s essential. It’s about setting an intention for how we want to BE in the world.
I don’t believe that life unravels without any intervention from us. It is more like a dance. We are co-creators in the process that’s unfolding. We don’t have control over what happens but we do have control over how we show up and how we react. It’s a lot like creating a photograph with simplicity. We remove what’s not essential to focus on what’s important.
As I was going through my December of simplicity, I listened to an interview with writer and poet, Mark Nepo. He tells an amazing story about fish as teachers of simplicity (paraphrased):
Often the simplest creatures are the greatest teachers, as is the case with fish. Fish are air-breathing creatures but they live in water. And they have this amazing thing called a gill. This is absolutely astonishing and miraculous.
So a fish moves through the water and the water moves through the gill and the gill extracts the oxygen from the water and discharges the hydrogen. It lets it stream behind it. This is why fish need to keep moving through water or they will die. They have to have the water go through their gills in order to breathe.
Fish are examples of the endless search that has no destination. They are not moving through the water because they are going somewhere. They don’t have any agendas or appointments — not that we know of! But they need to keep engaging in their element or they will die.
For us, the heart is our gill. And we need to move through the water of experience every day, or inwardly, we will die. And we need to learn, through first-hand experience, how to extract what is essential and discharge the rest. Because when we don’t discharge the rest, when we cling and hold onto what is not essential, it starts to clog up the gill of the heart. And we can no longer breathe from what is essential.”
Here are some simple mantras that will guide me this year.
Eat less. Move more.
Sit. Walk. Write. (Natalie Goldberg, The True Secret of Writing)
Pause. Focus. Connect (Click).
What will be guiding you this year?
Your post is so timely and interesting, Kim. I have been using my Unravelling Workbook the last few days. I love your response to Sandra’s question: we are co-creators in the dance of life. This year my word FOCUS will be my guide. I also was reviewing files and came across your “widen your lens”, which I think contains wonderful advice. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Oh, I’m glad you found that, Gina. Interesting to think of how you will widen your lens and focus at the same time. I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive.
Kim, I REALLY enjoyed your December of Simplicity course. I did not get to post many pictures but the course had a wonderful effect on me. I am choosing the word SIMPLICITY as my word for 2014 and already feel better about the New Year
Mary
Thanks, Mary. I’m glad you were a part of it and that you’ve chosen to continue into the new year.
Your guiding mantras are well chosen, Kim.
It’s true that we don’t have any control of what happens in our lives, but we do get to choose how we react to what happens. This gives us a sense of freedom in situations which we hadn’t imagined would be coming our way.
I will see where this year takes me. I feel very much like a piece of driftwood journeying on the current of life. I don’t feel I get much choice in how things flow, but I can decide to try and swim upstream or go with the way things are and live a more peaceful existence that feels harmonious to me. Above all, I seek harmony.
Sandra, I would bet most of us feel like driftwood journeying on the current – a great metaphor. You’re not alone! We don’t get much choice in how things flow. Seeking harmony in the midst of whatever comes seems like a very worthy desire.
As always, your thoughtful writing gives me much to think about. I like this idea of being in a dance with life – and that we are in control of how we react to what life puts before us. I look forward to your future lessons and musings which always inspire.
Your writing is a spark of joy for all who stop and love to get in touch with there inner most creative being. Thank you for sharing from your heart.
Kim Im adding you to my reading list.. There is so much strength and wisdom here. Your a God Send.. and I thank you 🙂