May 3rd: mini retreat in Seattle, 1:30-5:30 pm at Goldilocks Cottage. Mini retreats offer a power-packed in-depth investigation of a situation you find faulty in your life. You’ll look at what you are against and take it through the four questions. Everyone welcome. You can earn 4 CEUs if you’re a mental health professional.
Speaking of power-packed in-depth investigations…
The three Year of Inquiry (YOI) groups have been coming up with such juicy, brilliant concepts for questioning. Very universal (they all are, really).
But yesterday morning, we looked at a moment everyone in this world has probably experienced, with varying degrees of disturbance.
Your Peace. Interrupted.
By that other person entering the building, coming home early, yelling loudly, shouting in the crowd, calling you when you’re busy, stopping by unexpectedly, turning on the TV, asking you for something.
Kids, spouses, partners, friends, strangers.
Humans can interrupt you at any time, any moment!! It’s a mine field out there!! Escape for the hills!
The type of interruption we observed was the kind where someone is friendly, exuberant even (one YOI member was investigating her thoughts about a puppy), cute, interested in you, innocent….
…someone you love, who you care about and often spend time with.
Except not right now.
I’m BUSY!! JEEZ!!
Can’t you see I’m trying to “fill-in-the-blank”? (Write, read, meditate, answer emails, talk to someone else).
That little split second of a moment when you want to shut them down, annoyed, angry, wanting to un-do this disturbing moment.
But who would you be without the thought that you are truly disturbed?
Without the thought that having no choice in that moment is a bad thing?
“In most cases, you have no right to demand that this person live up to your expectations; someone else in your place would be exposed to this behavior and would experience no annoyance at all. Just contemplate this truth….How foolish of you to demand that someone else live up to standards and norms programmed into you.” ~ Anthony de Mello
This does not mean that you never speak up, never make requests. You may move yourself into more pleasant surroundings. There will be a most loving approach, all the way around.
Turning the thought around: My peace is not interrupted.
My peace is never interrupted.
Can you find where this could be truer?
“The Master’s power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.” ~ Tao Te Ching #55
Don’t read this as a way you are not measuring up….simply notice, contemplate.
Can you let one tiny part of your resistance go? Even just a little teensy eensy bit may make a huge difference next time.
You never know.
Much love, Grace