It’s interesting the way we “make” plans.
I plan to do “x” tomorrow, and “y” next year. I plan on living at “z” in 2025 and visiting “q” in the summer. I plan on washing my clothes on Saturday. I plan on meditating at 7am every day.
Then, there’s what actually happens. Sometimes the plan goes as expected, sometimes not.
Stress can rise up when the plans are made because of stress, because of a need for control, because of fear, because of aggression against What Is. (This is where “diets” or ways-of-eating often came in for me).
It does seem like plans are fun and loving when the reason for them is loving, kind, joyful, exciting, supportive.
So what’s a peaceful, loving, fun plan?
Doesn’t that sound nice, to have a fun and loving plan for just about anything you dream about and say “I’ll make a plan for that!”
Year of Inquiry starts in a month.
It won’t be the way the mind exactly “plans” it.
That’s impossible, honestly.
And yet, in the midst of the now, and this thing called “time” and the imagined future for anything….in this case the Year of Inquiry….I’ve been pondering what will be different this coming year.
One thing that’s going to be different, for example, is Saturdays.
One of the times you can join, which has been asked from people wanting to attend for years, is the weekend.
Why not? I used to find a clear reason why not with kids and family and friends and dancing on Saturdays. But not now. So we’ll gather for those who like that time on Saturdays (8:30am Pacific Time/ 12:30pm Eastern).
I’ve also been sitting with the topics we’ve had for several years in YOI; (we study one of these monthly: for example writing the JYN, body, money, relationships, family-of-origin, turnarounds, fear, etc).
We’ve investigated our stories on the topics, in the same order even, for quite a few years.
Everyone has stories about money, or the body, or certain relationships. Everyone has stories about family of origin: mother, father, sister, brother. Everyone has stories about getting it wrong and getting it right, not being good enough or needing something to be different.
No new thoughts.
But it appears the plan for topics will shift and expand a bit.
I’ve loved noticing over the years the common Top Hit Parade of underlying beliefs about reality, about ourselves, about other people that seem to arise repeatedly in the mind.
So many complicated and complex stories….but are they really that complicated?
Maybe the details change, but the story comes out of a shorter list than I once imagined about what’s going on here in life.
- I thought I was abandoned
- I almost died
- they rejected/criticized me (see #1)
- I have to do this by myself (I’m not enough, I’m all alone, I need help, I should work harder, since I’m abandoned)
- Something’s missing (money, love, health, freedom, peace)
- I’m not safe
- I need to wake up/get somewhere else consciously (because then all of the above will be irrelevant, and I’ll be happy)
- Now (or in the past in that situation) I am not happy–this isn’t it
It does seem like there are constant stories the mind communicates, or is it one persistent story?
Do some of us have a song we play over and over, and it’s really the same song (even though we thought it was a different song)?
I remember noticing my “Abandonment Story”.
I am abandoned. I’m not enough, not good enough, relaxed enough, self-less enough, peaceful enough, supported enough, free enough.
“I”. Abandoned.
How do we know?
The mind has its proof!
So now, I’ll plan on how Not To Be Abandoned. (haha).
“I” Am Abandoned. I have zillions of pieces of evidence. I rest my case.
But who am I without this story, in my particular and unique threatening or concerning situations I’ve experienced?
I don’t appear to need to make a plan to brace against potential abandonment.
Nice to notice.
What about another common story:
The “This Is Not It” Story.
This person isn’t “it”, my child isn’t “it” (the way I expected), my life isn’t “it”, this job isn’t “it”, this feeling isn’t “it”.
I’m not exactly sure what “it” is, but THIS is certainly NOT it.
LOL.
This list of topics in Year of Inquiry seems to allow a doorway to open into common stressful stories. Songs we’ve been singing, perhaps for our whole lives.
For example, Family of Origin opens up to the story of “they did it to me” or “I am special”.
Money opens up to “I have to access it” or “it’s possible for there not to be enough” or “I need this in order to be happy” (Dependency Story).
The Body topic offers deeply similar story lines: “I Must Survive” story or “Dying is Worse/Better Than Living” or “Living Is Better/Worse Than Dying” stories.
Again with the body, as with money or lovers or conditions there’s the “I-need-this-to be-‘x’-in-order-to-be-happy” story. Thin, healthy, alive, pain-free, intact, youthful.
What I notice is stories can be boiled down.
Boiled, boiled and boiled down, with all the moisture evaporating into the air (all the details becoming unimportant).
I see the stressful story, the concerning story.
As I answer four questions, awareness comes alive of Who I Am Without A Story.
A wonder, a creative process, a joy.
Moods, conditions, experiences, people, bodies, flavors come and go.
What is here without a story about it?
So thrilling.
So with all this said, and an apparent story about a future that begins in a month (LOL)….a group will gather again to share the power of self-inquiry.
At least this appears very likely as the plan.
It’s happened for ten different groups prior to this one. There will be a “last one” someday.
For now, it appears a thrill and spark has caught fire imagining this newest group starting, and people already signing up (especially several repeaters who know they like it and want to stick with it).
And so within, I’m watching ideas appear that had not appeared before about this next year-of-inquiry group.
Noticing the gratitude and and freedom and joy that arises when questioning stressful thinking–or why else would we even do this work?
Noticing “plans” and watching them come alive without stress.
Some shifts to the monthly topics…a study of the “stories” they point to.
The Story of “I” and the need for “Me” to make plans, be on the alert, be in charge, run the show, be safe, be careful, avoid pain, get pleasure, get enlightened.
Without a stressful story, the joy of the upcoming adventure grows.
This practice of self-inquiry using the four questions stuns me in how I have persistently been interested for almost 20 years.
Even when I’ve had the thought “I’m sick of doing The Work!”
Here it comes again, consistent, steady, the clearest and simplest way.
No set answers in stone, no one else’s answers, just mind’s awareness opening and closing, starting and stopping, beginning and ending….kind of like life.
So those wishing to join together with others on the path of self-inquiry and wonderment about What Is….
….For those continuing to be curious about what else is here besides a story about what is here….
….there will be some new additions and changes in the program format to support our inquiry together.
There are loving “plans” underway:
- Other facilitators giving their time for extra sessions.
- Other guest facilitators visiting our group.
- Invitations to dancing online to a set list on Saturdays for those wanting to feel their inquiry in the body.
- Partner work, as always, for everyone enrolled who wants to pair with others.
- Written exercises to dive deep into our awareness of what we’ve believed.
And always, always the simple awareness for Year of Inquiry to learn to be, share, and love what is.
“I am a lover of what is, not because I am a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality.” ~ Byron Katie
Check out the details here.
As a loving offer for those who are part of the family of Grace Note readers who have read all of this–YOU–I offer you a special invitation for Year of Inquiry which is usually only for repeaters or people in Summer Camp or other programs like Eating Peace Experience.
If you use the coupon code VIP when you sign up for full pay Year of Inquiry then a whole $500 will be subtracted from the full fee, and for the entire year the cost will be only $1497 for those who register before September 1st.
Yes, this is lower than I’ve ever offered, but there has been more people participating since the first year I ever offered this, the costs to run YOI are more spread out between a greater number of folks, the flow seems easier since all the tech is set up, the amount of admin time is simpler.
The one thing to consider about Year of Inquiry is that it is created to be a one-year program. We request 60 days to consider and fully participate, and after that please be “in” or “out” for the rest of the year (by November 15th).
There is a monthly payment plan as well, which you’ll see when you visit here.
I also offer anyone reading this the monthly pay private code for repeaters if you choose to register by paying each month for 12 months. The code for the monthly payment discount is TRUE.
If you decide to join us in Year of Inquiry and use these special discount codes, you need to do it before Sept 1st.
We’re preparing, and we can’t wait to connect with you–old and new friends, walking each other home.
Visit the information page here.
Much love,
Grace
https://www.workwithgrace.com/year-of-inquiry/#hero