I was working with a wonderful client the other day. Before we got into her process of inquiry on someone she experienced as troubling, she asked me a question.
It made me think. In a really good way.
“Why are you focusing all your upcoming offerings on a Year of Inquiry program? I like individual sessions, or the eight week courses. A year is too long, I don’t know my schedule for a whole year ahead.”
What was awesome about it was then hearing from her why she liked the idea of the shorter groups, the 2 month focus on one topic, not a huge all-year commitment.
I love hearing from people what helps them when it comes to inquiry.
Different elements help, at different times, depending on your life circumstance.
I’d love to hear from you today. Hit reply to this Grace Note email and say anything or everything you want to share. Or if you want to be totally anonymous so you can say anything at all, clickHERE to answer only five questions in an online survey. I will only get all the answers and have no way of knowing who wrote to me.
When it comes to questioning your mind, what has been most useful? What came along at the right time in your life that even made you curious about self-inquiry or The Work? What makes you interested in this process of questioning painful thoughts?
It’s like….why bother with this at all? Why DO The Work? Why do it with the intention to do it for a year? Why do it even once? Why listen to someone else do it on youtube?
What is so dang interesting about asking and answering these questions?
I’ll tell you more about how it has been for me tomorrow.
In the meantime, thank you in advance for writing back to me. In many ways it helps me to know what works for you, what doesn’t work, what you’ve always wished for, what you’re waiting for, what your concerns are, what makes you hesitate or NOT do The Work whether by yourself, or in a group or class.
I happen to have a job that is totally strange, unplanned, unexpected and weird.
Apparently, part of my job is to assist people as best I can in finding their own solid ground about being alive for a temporary time on planet earth…..through unraveling their perceptions, mental blocks, worries, their destructive side of imagination, their suspicious relationship with reality.
I am supporting the end of stressful stories. Starting with my own.
All of them are actually my own.
If there is a “my” own and a “me” here to have a story.
But without getting too cosmic….I would love to know then how best I can support you. You can write me anything. Your concerns about taking classes, being on the phone vs live, the cost of things and paying money for any of this.
This is how we do it.
Together.
If I can be of service in any way, write to me and tell me how.
But even if you’re not a survey person and have no time for answering questions in writing….you can ask yourself today, in this moment you are reading this….
….What do I think I need right now, in order to be happy, joyful, at peace, or free?
Right Now.
Do I need to call someone I love? Do I need to rest? Do I need to wait on a decision, and meditate, or make a decision and go for it? Do I need to get up from the chair and keep my commitment? Do I need to identify what my story, or stressful thought, actually is, so I can question it? Do I need a supportive meeting? Do I need to stop, relax and surrender? Do I need to breathe deeply, stare into space, or get a drink of water? Do I need to go to the gym, or go outside?
Bottom line is, do you have access to this peace you seek, right now?
What’s preventing you from it?
Now THAT is a great question.
“Mindfulness is never about doing something perfectly, because it is not about doing or accomplishing at all. It is about allowing things to be as they are, resting in awareness, and then, taking appropriate action when called for. Silence, deep listening, and non-doing are often very appropriate responses in particularly trying moments — not a turning away at all, but an opening toward things with clarity and good will, even toward ourselves. Out of that awareness, trustworthy skillful responses and actions can arise naturally, and surprise us with their creativity and clarity.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn
To answer a few questions here about your experience of self-inquiry, mindfulness, investigation of thoughts, click HERE.
Much love and gratitude, Grace