March 28th, 2017
Affirmation: I no longer stay in situations that bring me unhappiness or pain.
Word of the Day: coze (n):
Joseph has come, the handsome one of this age,
a victory banner floating over spring flowers.
Those of you whose work it is to wake the dead,
get up. This is a work day.
The lion that hunts lions charges into the meadow.
Yesterday and the day before are gone.
The beautiful coin of now slaps down in your hand.
Start the drumbeat. Everything we have said
about the Friend is true. The beauty of that
peacefulness makes the whole world restless.
Spread your love-robe out to catch
what sifts down from the ninth level.
You heart closed up in a chest, open,
for the Friend is entering you.
You feet, it is time to dance.
Don't talk about the old man.
He is young again. And don't mention
the past. Do you understand?
The beloved is here.
_____
Learning Something New
Whether we are trying to replace bad habits with more helpful ones or whether we are simply trying to invite more effective behavioral choices into our lives, CHANGE IS HARD. Indeed, between self-help books, new year's resolutions, therapists, coaches, trainers, treatment centers, hypnosis, and more, our society spends billions of dollars each year in our often futile and fruitless attempts at change.
While I cannot and do not proclaim to know what is getting in the way of your being able to change specifically, I do want to offer a metaphor that has helped me in my struggle with change. As I've alluded to previously, metaphors speak to me much in the way poetry does - it cuts past my over-analyzing brain and goes much deeper into my psyche and soma...
Learning a new behavior is like learning to play the piano (or any sort of musical instrument) or learning to riding a bike. In the beginning, it feels awkward and unnatural. It feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. You feel discouraged and feel like you will never master the skill. Your muscles might ache and you might feel mentally exhausted from doing your new skill. You also notice that you have to put every bit of concentration into (balancing/playing) it. You often make mistakes and "fall off the bike." The "notes" you are attempting to read really do feel like a foreign language. Everything about the new behavior feels forced, deliberate, heavy, clumsy, and painful.
But with practice, things get easier over time. You tire and ache less. You dread practicing the skill less. Each tiny step forward bolsters your confidence and determination a little bit. And eventually, the new muscle memory kicks in and you no longer feel like you are putting in a painstaking effort into it. Things flow more easily and naturally. You still make mistakes and fall off from time to time, but you are able to get right back on track.
This new way of doing translates into a new way of being. And it no longer feels so unfamiliar and unnatural. Eventually, the new muscle memory replaces the old. You no longer have to think about balancing or think about and look at the piano keys as you play them. You find freedom and flexibility in this new way of life.
- What is one habit that you are trying to introduce into your life?
- What tends to get in your way of behavior change?
- What is one skill or behavior that you have mastered that once felt impossible? How did you do it?
Affirmation: I no longer stay in situations that bring me unhappiness or pain.
Word of the Day: coze (n):
1. a friendly talk;
a chat.
2. to converse in a
friendly way; chat.
Joseph
Joseph has come, the handsome one of this age,
a victory banner floating over spring flowers.
Those of you whose work it is to wake the dead,
get up. This is a work day.
The lion that hunts lions charges into the meadow.
Yesterday and the day before are gone.
The beautiful coin of now slaps down in your hand.
Start the drumbeat. Everything we have said
about the Friend is true. The beauty of that
peacefulness makes the whole world restless.
Spread your love-robe out to catch
what sifts down from the ninth level.
You heart closed up in a chest, open,
for the Friend is entering you.
You feet, it is time to dance.
Don't talk about the old man.
He is young again. And don't mention
the past. Do you understand?
The beloved is here.
_____
Learning Something New
Whether we are trying to replace bad habits with more helpful ones or whether we are simply trying to invite more effective behavioral choices into our lives, CHANGE IS HARD. Indeed, between self-help books, new year's resolutions, therapists, coaches, trainers, treatment centers, hypnosis, and more, our society spends billions of dollars each year in our often futile and fruitless attempts at change.
While I cannot and do not proclaim to know what is getting in the way of your being able to change specifically, I do want to offer a metaphor that has helped me in my struggle with change. As I've alluded to previously, metaphors speak to me much in the way poetry does - it cuts past my over-analyzing brain and goes much deeper into my psyche and soma...
Learning a new behavior is like learning to play the piano (or any sort of musical instrument) or learning to riding a bike. In the beginning, it feels awkward and unnatural. It feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. You feel discouraged and feel like you will never master the skill. Your muscles might ache and you might feel mentally exhausted from doing your new skill. You also notice that you have to put every bit of concentration into (balancing/playing) it. You often make mistakes and "fall off the bike." The "notes" you are attempting to read really do feel like a foreign language. Everything about the new behavior feels forced, deliberate, heavy, clumsy, and painful.
But with practice, things get easier over time. You tire and ache less. You dread practicing the skill less. Each tiny step forward bolsters your confidence and determination a little bit. And eventually, the new muscle memory kicks in and you no longer feel like you are putting in a painstaking effort into it. Things flow more easily and naturally. You still make mistakes and fall off from time to time, but you are able to get right back on track.
This new way of doing translates into a new way of being. And it no longer feels so unfamiliar and unnatural. Eventually, the new muscle memory replaces the old. You no longer have to think about balancing or think about and look at the piano keys as you play them. You find freedom and flexibility in this new way of life.
- What is one habit that you are trying to introduce into your life?
- What tends to get in your way of behavior change?
- What is one skill or behavior that you have mastered that once felt impossible? How did you do it?
Love today's affirmation. If only it would have had a different dateline.
ReplyDeleteLife is often about the learning and the lesson. And it is always better late than never.
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