I love the magnificent group of people who have signed up for Summer Camp.
One person joined even though she can’t make the three live sessions per week, just to share on the forum and listen to our inquiries.
As one camper said….I’m so excited by the idea of Camp….
….because you just show up.
Sometimes, that’s a huge step and all you need to do, to begin a movement towards something in your life that you know feels important.
Even if from the outside, it looks like a baby step.
You go to a meeting, you ride your bike on a different route, you show up at someone’s party whose house you’ve never visited, you enter a different store, you enroll in a trial dance class, you park your car in a different place in your home town and take a walk.
Only once. We’re not talking for weeks or months or years.
What’s the worst that could happen?
You may think things like “I might be disappointed, it may be a waste of time, it may be a waste of money, I won’t feel better, I won’t like it, why bother.”
These thoughts are great for self-inquiry.
This past weekend I spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon working. At 8:30 pm, feeling complete, I could have started reading a book (one of my favorite things to do) but instead, wanting to show up, my husband and I went to a friend’s gathering….
….about four hours after the appointed start time. We went anyway.
We had a ball! Good conversation, happy welcome, lovely connection with friends and stayed up until 1 am.
If you have a pull towards something, it doesn’t mean that the thing you try will be the best thing you’ve ever done in your life…but how sweet to question your thinking that would prevent you from showing up.
Is it true that you MIGHT be disappointed? That it might not be fabulous? That you would waste something (time, money) potentially, by going?
Yes! Of course that’s true! Disappointing things have happened, and they may happen again!
But are you absolutely sure?
Interesting question.
It seems impossible to know whether you would love or hate something, before it happens….
….but I notice how the thought “I might not like it” is NOT hands-down absolutely without-a-doubt true. Not at all.
And what if it’s not even a risk?
Freedom to come and go, trust myself and any process that unfolds in front of me, be there or move away, no expectations….
….ahhhhh. Now that’s more relaxing.
How do you react when you believe that thought that you may have a bad time, later?
Very, very careful about trying anything new. Suspicious. Nervous. Anxious. Afraid. Isolated. Worried about being worried later on. Good lord!
And without the belief that I might experience trouble, later?
Suddenly I’m more present. I’m here now, looking around. Noticing how free I am in this moment.
Without the belief that I might be disappointed later on, so best not rock the boat….when I look at past disappointments I can look more deeply to see if they REALLY were as bad as I think.
“Egoic consciousness is always pretending to be the most important thing that is happening. And yet there’s this thread, this sense of something other than, deeper than, more real than, more essential than this scattered and divided noise that so many human beings live in, in their minds. And right in the midst of all that, there is a presence, there is an awareness, an unconditioned awareness, an unconditioned consciousness. Right in the middle of this conditioned mind, conditioned consciousness, is this shining, unconditioned essence.” ~ Adyashanti
Turning the thoughts around: I might have a fantastic time, I will enjoy myself, I’ll like it, it’s not possible to waste money or time, I’ll feel better, I’ll learn something.
All just as true, or truer.
In this moment right here, now, I notice that as I consider the turnarounds I’m happy, content, safe, open, curious, aware, learning, growing.
I can notice this about even the tiniest thing, the smallest proof of peace, here in this moment right now. Even if two seconds before I was remembering disappointment, or worried about things not going well tomorrow.
“Who would you be without the thought that you’re going to suffer in the future? This moment is all there is, and I can promise you that it’s all there ever will be. You’re standing in your future….You’re living your future right now. How are you doing? This is the only moment there is, everything else is imagination.” ~ Byron Katie
So today, I show up, here. This moment. Looking around and noticing how beautiful my surroundings, how fascinating, how everything just keeps getting better and better the more I relax.
The best of all, you are showing up too. You’re here, right?
That’s enough.
Much love, Grace
P.S. You can still join Summer Camp. Great people to meet and connect with for doing your work. Write grace@workwithgrace.com if you want to come on board.