Becoming a Lake

During tough times it is easy to get lost in our own pain. The following Zen koan offers a look at perspective and how it can influence our experience. Enjoy.

An aging Hindu master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning, sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.

"How does it taste?" the master asked.
"Bitter," spit the apprentice.

The master then asked the young man to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake nearby. Once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."

As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "How does it taste?"
"Fresh," remarked the apprentice.
"Do you taste the salt?" asked the master.
"No," said the young man.

At this, the master took the young man's hands, offering, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in.

So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things . . .

STOP BEING A GLASS. BECOME A LAKE.

Every one of us at some time in our lives will have to deal with the emotional upheaval of the death of a loved one. We now it will happen but it is one of those events that very few people are truly prepared for. Loss and grief can overwhelm us emotionally and create the feeling that life is out of balance.

Every aspect of life is different and forever changed with emotions of anger, remorse, numbness, and sadness triggered by everyday life. Often thoughts will race, sleep is impossible, and even happiness and laughter can open up feelings of guilt.

Grief is not an illness from which a person recovers; rather, it is a gradual process of transformation. It is a time when even the simplest of things can seem uncertain as we learn to live with new feelings while integrating the loss into the fabric of our lives.

This is the time when working with a counselor who specializes in grief work can assist in making the experience more bearable. A well trained grief therapist will not take the pain away but they will listen to all aspects of the loss and provide tools for the living to continue on with their lives and recover a state of equilibrium.

Finding Your Own Fun

It feel like summer is already here and time is moving at an ever increasing rate. Noticing how quickly time seems to pass has gotten me thinking about how important it is to stop, take a look around and smell the roses . It's a simple and important way that we can take care of ourselves in the midst of our fast-paced lives.

Finding time to nurture and care for ourselves is a vital part of what keeps us active and alive in mind, body, and spirit. Self care is not just about working out the body to be more fit or meditating to quiet the thoughts. Self care is also about stimulating our minds and imaginations to create vitality that recharges our batteries.

Getting out and experiencing the world right outside your door is an easy and inexpensive means to plug in and feel good. Having fun with friends and family can relieve stress and anxiety, lift your mood, and increase your levels of energy.

Take the time to explore your world finding fascination and beauty in your own backyard.

PATIENCE

It seems like the world is in such a rush these days with
anxiety and worry being at the forefront of the emotional tsunami that is threatening to overwhelm much of our sanity. And yet this is just another moment.

When we look back over the course of our life experience we will recognize that it is composed of a collection of moments, each one woven together to create the fabric of who we are today. But not one of those events is any greater than the next. Sure, we may attach importance to them, but in the larger picture none of these moments has more value than the next.

The skill of patience will allow us to connect to each moment as it happens without using the filters of past stories to cloud our vision. Take time to taste life, see the small steps along the way that make up the big picture, make room for your entire life story to be lived.

And when some tells you to hurry up, invite them to take a break with you and enjoy the moment that you two can share together

Fear and Anxiety

Anxiety and fear have taken hold. Many lives these days are influenced by decisions not based on reasoned sense but on the fear that has been created all around us. But how much of that fear is real and how much of it is inflicted upon us by our own sense of lack and self-doubt?

If we pause and take a look at fear, it is often based on the failures of our past and if we examine anxiety, it is often based on trying to predict and control the future. But what about right now. What do you really have to be fearful about in this moment? NOW!

Bringing the fine art of awareness into our lives can benefit both ourselves and those that we serve. Facing our fears and anxieties is important in these stressful times so that we are able to be fully present and not allow them to dominate our life experience.

It is vital to find our own means of centering and self care whether it be meditation, yoga, hiking, reading, or spending time with our loved ones. Releasing our own stress and fear is vital to maintain our health and our sanity.

So dose yourself with some personal time, make space for perspective, consider therapy or counseling with a trained professional, and see if anxiety and fear can go on a vacation leaving you room to enjoy life and prosper.