I have often wondered if I could be a totally effortless being,
Just riding the natural wave of evolution in an effortless rhythm,
An effortless flow,
Requiring no physical or mental struggling.
Wouldn't that be brilliant?
Is it perhaps simply a mindset?
Who said we have to struggle?
To dwell in an effortless presence and peace,
It doesn't mean that we don't create,
Plan,
Dream or make effort.
Not at all.
It simply means we stop pushing and striving.
We determine the intention,
Put into place what we want or need to create,
Pay attention,
Put it into action and then let go.
Not being concerned about the outcome,
Just allowing the intention to evolve,
To manifest.
Sometimes when we push so hard and tire,
We become exhausted,
Often not even consciously.
Then we become anxious,
Ruled by perfectionist tendencies and consumed by detail,
And then we collapse.
Much like swimming really.
If we become exhausted,
We panic and then sink.
But if we let go,
We float effortlessly,
Allowing the tide to guide us home.
An effortless flow filled with effortless moments,
Bringing peace and harmony at every turn.
If we reflect for a moment on some of the warmest,
Most congenial aspects of a beautiful life,
We realize how much happens without great effort.
Love is effortless.
It just happens.
Grace is effortless.
Smiling is effortless,
As it just appears.
Elegance is effortless.
Simplicity is effortless.
It just is.
Compassion is effortless.
It just comes.
Peace is effortless.
It is always within us.
The more we clutch on,
Struggle,
Strive and fight,
The more that clarity and harmony elude us.
Mindfully slowing does help us to stop,
To calm the body,
Soothe the mind,
Cease the striving,
Give up the struggle and to let go.
When our body is calm,
We breathe effortlessly.
When we breathe effortlessly,
We realize our body is calm.
Perhaps this is one of the simplest lessons of all.
If we simply pay attention to the breath in this way,
Then maybe,
Just maybe,
We have the answer.
Are you sitting effortlessly or lying back comfortably as you are hearing these words?
Breathing in effortlessly.
Breathing out effortlessly.
Breathing in effortlessly.
Breathing out effortlessly.
An effortless being effortlessly doing,
Effortlessly smiling,
An effortless presence.
Just being you,
Without the shackles of the past,
Future,
Image,
Ideals,
Opinions,
Judgments,
Emotions,
Concerns or burdens.
Living in an effortless present moment.
Welcome yourself home to a calm,
Serene state.
Nothing to prove to anyone,
Nothing to prove to yourself,
No one to compare to or to struggle with,
Nothing to carry upon your shoulders.
Light,
Free,
Easy.
Feeling the gentle rhythm of life.
Awakening to these calming moments.
Moving in an effortless flow.
Breathing in gently and peacefully.
Breathing out slowly and smoothly.
Breathing in deeply and wholly.
Breathing out calmly and placidly.
Hush right now.
Notice how little effort it takes to be still.
When one lives simply,
Slowly and truthfully,
It is effortless.
For these qualities are natural to us.
How does being effortless feel?
Doing a little less?
Resting a little more?
Sitting still?
Just observing?
Being quiet?
Just listening?
Being aware,
But not distracted by anything that enters a field of awareness?
Not diverting to anything that intrudes on this peaceful moment?
Not doing anything?
Not trying to change or fix anything?
Being effortless is powerful.
And remember struggling deems us powerless.
And a poignant reminder from the teachings of Lao Tzu.
Nature does not hurry,
Yet everything is accomplished.
Breathing in gently and peacefully.
Breathing out slowly and smoothly.
Breathing in deeply and wholly.
Breathing out calmly and placidly.
Hush right now.
Again,
Notice how little effort it takes to be still.
Hush right now.
Reflect on your breath.
What is it telling you?
When you focus on slowing down it will slow down with you and support your desire to be calm and at peace.
Stop struggling,
Striving,
Fighting.
There is no need.
Most of us become conditioned to the idea that struggling is normal,
Positive and that it makes us strong.
Was this your upbringing?
Have you adopted this perspective?
Many of us feel guilty or ashamed if we take even a few spare moments for ourselves to rest and restore.
Some even consider it to be pure indulgence.
Do we not understand that ironically it is only when we completely let go into stillness and silence that our true potential,
Cleverness and creativity shine through?
Hush right now.
Breathing in gently and peacefully.
Breathing out slowly and smoothly.
Hush right now.
Breathing in deeply and wholly.
Breathing out calmly and placidly.
Hush right now.
And again,
Notice how little effort it takes to be still.
Do you ever desperately try to recall a person's name or a fact and it will not come to mind no matter how much you try and try and try to bring it forth?
Have you then had the experience of letting the annoyance go,
Being silent for a while and then a few moments later the name or fact emerges from your subconscious?
And one more reflective thought to focus upon.
Does living effortlessly hold hands with simplifying your life a little more?
The less you do,
The more space you create to be free,
Open and whole.
The less you have,
The less you need.
The less you feel you have to own,
The less you will have to own.
The less you own,
The less you have to ensure,
Store,
Protect,
Polish and clean.
And the lighter you will become.
Breathing in gently and peacefully.
Breathing out slowly and smoothly.
Breathing in deeply and wholly.
Breathing out calmly and pleasantly.
Hush right now.
And again,
Notice how little effort it takes to be still.
Slowly bring your hands to your heart and rest one upon the other.
And perhaps reflect upon the notion that many of the most beautiful things in life manifest in silence and with little effort.
Just observe the magnificence of nature and its blooming of the rose.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om.
Peace.
Peace.
Peace.
