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What perspectives help me lean into life as it is?
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Being close to the natural world, by and on / in the water, earth, trees, wind, sun … people and animals each doing their / our thing in relative peace, harmony, balance and mutual respect …
Im gaining so many new perspectives recently. I really have been struggling these past couple years, but especially months. I decided to take action and start learning how I can turn my life around. I really enjoyed the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It taught me that the past is over and theres nothing we can change about it so why linger on it? The future hasn’t happened and we can’t expect the outcome so why are we thinking about what is to come. Why not just be in the NOW and enjoy every little moment while we are experiencing it. It is definitely a practice, but a perspective that I am really excited to keep practicing and enjoy my life as it is. TRUSTING the process and being grateful for ALL<3
It’s a mess out there AND there is beauty everywhere.
I try to keep this in mind & heart as I regularly bring food to folks in our city’s most troubled, wounded, beleaguered neighbourhood.
Surrender and non resistance seem to be the most helpful. And being aware of the current moment. It’s not easy and I catch myself all day long, resisting, wishing, overthinking, and generally not being present.
So many wonderful answers and quotations here already. Reading a lot of science-related books helped me understand I am part of the energy of the entire universe. (The Tao of Physics is one that comes to mind here.) With that in mind, I try to approach life with the idea that if I’m part of the energy of the universe I want to be positive energy rather than negative energy.. And on the days when the positive part is a little hard to summon up, I use the line “the only way out is through.” I mean, sometimes there’s a workaround so you don’t have to go through, but for life’s toughest things often the only way out *is* through. And then I remind myself that attachment causes suffering and if I can let go and live with what is and try to be curious about what will come next, it will be what it was going to be anyway and I’ll suffer less.
somehow turning 80 has unexpectedly opened me to a world of wonder, non judgement and even open heartedness….even towards myself. The critical thoughts, sad memories, seem to dissipate like clouds…nothing solid to hold on to…there are painful relationships but even there, nothing solid…..all open for grace?……if this is aging I cannot recommend I highly enough.
This is so wonderful to read! Thank you for sharing this. I turn 60 this year and have felt myself becoming more open, less judgmental even while no less passionate about things I believe in.
I learned about the poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommeron this site. I then signed onto her poem a day. Here is her site: https://www.wordwoman.com/
I am not sure if I should paste the whole poem here but here is the line that caught my attention as it related to the perspectives question: “How it leaves me astonished at life—so able to see there is more.” I think you will be able to read the whole poem on her site tomorrow. It is a list of beautiful things she can see in spite of sorrow. So that is my focus perspective, the one I lean into for today, in answer to the question. What beauty can you see today in spite of the bad news of the world or our personal sorrows or sadness?
In my upbringing I was taught that I should want God’s will for my life. I struggled with that until I had what I call “a blinding glimpse of the obvious.” God’s will is that I deal in reality. What is IS. I can choose to work with it or deny it. A few years later, I started reading a lot of books on spirituality. Authors like Br. David, Karen Armstrong, Henri Nouwen and Richard Rohr. Karen Armstrong pointed out that tracing the etymology of the word “believe” led to the definition: “to love.” Nouwen taught that we are God’s “beloved.” Richard Rohr said that the EGO “Edges God Out.” And Br. David taught that “being grateful opens the door to opportunity.” I decided that faith is not dogma. It’s “trust.” It took a few more years for another perspective to sink in. Life is trustworthy and so am I. Eckhart Tolle came along and I read “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth.” I realized that however you picture God (I picture God as evolutionary energy), the strength that I need to lean into my life “as it is” resides in the NOW. If I am in the past or the future, I go there alone because God IS. Practice the Presence. Be a willing instrument of the flow. Today’s the Day! That’s the only thing I know for sure and it is enough.
Gratitude certainly helps. There is always something for which to be grateful. That fact doesn’t cancel out any struggles or challenges but it helps me focus on the bigger picture.
Yes, that has been a great help from this site. That recognition that there is sorrow and joy. Too often people just say be positive with no acknowledgement of the sorrow and that minimizes someone’s sorrow or worry.
I find the perspective of those who have come before me helpful in shaping how I live my life. These little nuggets inform and guide my days:
This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before. – Maya Angelou
It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. – John O’Donohue
Be kind, everyone is fighting a hard battle. – Attributed to Plato (among others)
If it’s fifty miles into the woods, it’s 50 miles out. – Recovery term
Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy. – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you. – Ruth Smeltzer
I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again. – William Penn
Thank you so much. I have a text document of quotes but instead of collecting I think I need to reread them and sit with them for a while. So much wisdom can be packed in a few words.
Me too, Rabbit – a text doc of quotes, and, happily, I notice a couple of them when I add a new quote but, indeed, there is so much that I could reread. And sit with them – I like that part, Rabbit. In fact it would be a wise practice for me to start doing.
I was thinking we could have a space to exchange a quote which would motivate us to read our own. Holding it in our mind as we gaze out the window at nature.
You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.” ~ Adyashanti – this is the quote that my ‘gratefulness’ doc was originally named for!
1
Mica
2 years ago
Thanks, Rabbit – I think I’ll check out some of the old early pages of my quote doc instead of sitting here now wondering what to do next! 🙂
1
m
Mair
2 years ago
Thank you. Perfect perspectives for this new day. I am grateful.
What good book have you read lately? Someone on this site recommended “Harry’s Trees” by John Cohen to me and I loved it as did several people that I recommended it to.
Acceptance and letting go of control. Knowing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and knowing that the experience is not the same for everyone. I try to make the best of my journey and hope you all do, too!
We perceive life as the forms of life. These forms are changing constantly. I can not hold anything even for a moment. So why worry. I know already either things will go, or I will go. This constant moving and changing makes it possible to „recognize“ the unchanging. That which is always quiet and unchanging is the source of that which is perceived. This is life. This is where I can lean on. This is my home where I can relax and feel save always. Forms change , life is . . .
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Being close to the natural world, by and on / in the water, earth, trees, wind, sun … people and animals each doing their / our thing in relative peace, harmony, balance and mutual respect …
Im gaining so many new perspectives recently. I really have been struggling these past couple years, but especially months. I decided to take action and start learning how I can turn my life around. I really enjoyed the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It taught me that the past is over and theres nothing we can change about it so why linger on it? The future hasn’t happened and we can’t expect the outcome so why are we thinking about what is to come. Why not just be in the NOW and enjoy every little moment while we are experiencing it. It is definitely a practice, but a perspective that I am really excited to keep practicing and enjoy my life as it is. TRUSTING the process and being grateful for ALL<3
It’s a mess out there AND there is beauty everywhere.
I try to keep this in mind & heart as I regularly bring food to folks in our city’s most troubled, wounded, beleaguered neighbourhood.
“I am not this body. I am not even this mind”
Surrender and non resistance seem to be the most helpful. And being aware of the current moment. It’s not easy and I catch myself all day long, resisting, wishing, overthinking, and generally not being present.
So many wonderful answers and quotations here already. Reading a lot of science-related books helped me understand I am part of the energy of the entire universe. (The Tao of Physics is one that comes to mind here.) With that in mind, I try to approach life with the idea that if I’m part of the energy of the universe I want to be positive energy rather than negative energy.. And on the days when the positive part is a little hard to summon up, I use the line “the only way out is through.” I mean, sometimes there’s a workaround so you don’t have to go through, but for life’s toughest things often the only way out *is* through. And then I remind myself that attachment causes suffering and if I can let go and live with what is and try to be curious about what will come next, it will be what it was going to be anyway and I’ll suffer less.
somehow turning 80 has unexpectedly opened me to a world of wonder, non judgement and even open heartedness….even towards myself. The critical thoughts, sad memories, seem to dissipate like clouds…nothing solid to hold on to…there are painful relationships but even there, nothing solid…..all open for grace?……if this is aging I cannot recommend I highly enough.
This is so wonderful to read! Thank you for sharing this. I turn 60 this year and have felt myself becoming more open, less judgmental even while no less passionate about things I believe in.
I learned about the poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommeron this site. I then signed onto her poem a day. Here is her site: https://www.wordwoman.com/
I am not sure if I should paste the whole poem here but here is the line that caught my attention as it related to the perspectives question: “How it leaves me astonished at life—so able to see there is more.” I think you will be able to read the whole poem on her site tomorrow. It is a list of beautiful things she can see in spite of sorrow. So that is my focus perspective, the one I lean into for today, in answer to the question. What beauty can you see today in spite of the bad news of the world or our personal sorrows or sadness?
So glad you’re reading Rosemerry’s work. She’s part of my morning routine along with all of you, as are a couple of other poetry sites.
Would you like to share the other poetry site?
In my upbringing I was taught that I should want God’s will for my life. I struggled with that until I had what I call “a blinding glimpse of the obvious.” God’s will is that I deal in reality. What is IS. I can choose to work with it or deny it. A few years later, I started reading a lot of books on spirituality. Authors like Br. David, Karen Armstrong, Henri Nouwen and Richard Rohr. Karen Armstrong pointed out that tracing the etymology of the word “believe” led to the definition: “to love.” Nouwen taught that we are God’s “beloved.” Richard Rohr said that the EGO “Edges God Out.” And Br. David taught that “being grateful opens the door to opportunity.” I decided that faith is not dogma. It’s “trust.” It took a few more years for another perspective to sink in. Life is trustworthy and so am I. Eckhart Tolle came along and I read “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth.” I realized that however you picture God (I picture God as evolutionary energy), the strength that I need to lean into my life “as it is” resides in the NOW. If I am in the past or the future, I go there alone because God IS. Practice the Presence. Be a willing instrument of the flow. Today’s the Day! That’s the only thing I know for sure and it is enough.
To know that I don´t know
I had a friend that used to say, “You don’t know that” whenever someone said something negative or discouraging.
Broaden awareness
Paraphrase of a paraphrase…. To hold suffering and death close, and look them in the eye, and to go on living, that is a gift.
Cool! Thanks, Mary Pat 🙂
((( ♥ )))
Gratitude certainly helps. There is always something for which to be grateful. That fact doesn’t cancel out any struggles or challenges but it helps me focus on the bigger picture.
Yes, that has been a great help from this site. That recognition that there is sorrow and joy. Too often people just say be positive with no acknowledgement of the sorrow and that minimizes someone’s sorrow or worry.
Live simply and enjoy every moment.
Two phrases that help me frame my perspective: How important is it? and This too shall pass.
I find the perspective of those who have come before me helpful in shaping how I live my life. These little nuggets inform and guide my days:
This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before. – Maya Angelou
It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. – John O’Donohue
Be kind, everyone is fighting a hard battle. – Attributed to Plato (among others)
If it’s fifty miles into the woods, it’s 50 miles out. – Recovery term
Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy. – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you. – Ruth Smeltzer
I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again. – William Penn
Thank you so much. I have a text document of quotes but instead of collecting I think I need to reread them and sit with them for a while. So much wisdom can be packed in a few words.
Me too, Rabbit – a text doc of quotes, and, happily, I notice a couple of them when I add a new quote but, indeed, there is so much that I could reread. And sit with them – I like that part, Rabbit. In fact it would be a wise practice for me to start doing.
I was thinking we could have a space to exchange a quote which would motivate us to read our own. Holding it in our mind as we gaze out the window at nature.
You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.” ~ Adyashanti – this is the quote that my ‘gratefulness’ doc was originally named for!
Thanks, Rabbit – I think I’ll check out some of the old early pages of my quote doc instead of sitting here now wondering what to do next! 🙂
Thank you. Perfect perspectives for this new day. I am grateful.
Great wisdom collection, Kevin. Thank you!
I enjoy readying everyone’s reflections on this site.
Nature – and her resiliency.
There will always be love.
I love reading, I have books.
What good book have you read lately? Someone on this site recommended “Harry’s Trees” by John Cohen to me and I loved it as did several people that I recommended it to.
Good morning Rabbit, the book The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Have a nice day.🌷☀️
Thank you Christine. I have made note of it and it will be next in line. Looking forward to it. Reading a good book is a joy.
👀📘💗
Acceptance and letting go of control. Knowing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and knowing that the experience is not the same for everyone. I try to make the best of my journey and hope you all do, too!
Letting go of all perceptions help me be grateful for everything!
Happy Friday dear friends.
We perceive life as the forms of life. These forms are changing constantly. I can not hold anything even for a moment. So why worry. I know already either things will go, or I will go. This constant moving and changing makes it possible to „recognize“ the unchanging. That which is always quiet and unchanging is the source of that which is perceived. This is life. This is where I can lean on. This is my home where I can relax and feel save always. Forms change , life is . . .
Lovely Herman- Josef! We can relax, let go and allow because of life!