Get comfortable.
Get steady and centered.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Welcome to a hit of hope.
In meditation,
We are often told to witness,
To be an observer of what is going on in our mind.
We're supposed to witness the waterfall of thoughts as they rush through our minds,
Often creating all kinds of roars and whirlpools.
Inhale.
Exhale.
In theory,
Witnessing is a great practice.
Taking a step back,
Watching dispassionately so we won't get so easily hooked,
Dragged along against our will,
Fighting and thrashing all the way.
Inhale.
Exhale.
I don't know about you,
But witnessing can work for me sometimes.
It can allow some distance between the rush of my thoughts and my steady center.
But my mind is active,
Ready to go.
So to tell it to stop and stay is a bit like telling an elephant to sit at a table and daintily drink tea.
It's just not gonna go well.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Lately,
I've been trying something different.
I've tried growing curious.
To be curious is to bring an attentive and engaged attention to something.
You lean in,
Often with a trace of a smile.
Would you look at that?
Inhale.
Exhale.
What if we brought curiosity,
A kind and eager attention to our inner life?
Would you look at that?
Isn't that interesting?
I wonder why that's happening.
Inhale.
Exhale.
We get warned against curiosity.
After all,
Look what it did to the cat.
But for minds that run more actively,
Curiosity might be a good way to start the process of befriending ourselves.
When the claws come out inside,
Be a soul.
Curious.
My oh my,
Would you look at that?
I wonder why that's happening.
When you fight against the ordinary,
Be a soul.
Curious.
What are the gifts here?
Where's the beauty?
When you are thrown into challenge,
Be a soul.
Curious.
What gifts do I bring to this situation?
Whom can I reach out to because I sure as hell don't want to be doing this alone.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Witnessing can be beautiful.
Creating space and stillness.
Releasing us from the snags of storylines.
But for me,
Witnessing can feel like an absence.
Like I'm being asked to go and sit in a corner.
And that can feel hard.
Lonely.
More like a punishment.
For me,
Curiosity requires a presence.
A presence of mind.
Here I am.
Leaning in.
Bringing an exquisite,
Kind,
Intelligent attention to life.
This is a practice we can do with ourselves.
This is a practice we can do with others as well.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Get curious.
Be present.
Lean in.
Bringing a kind and intelligent attention to your life.
And because you are exquisite,
Amazing,
And beautifully rare,
Get ready to be wonderstruck.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Live Light.
