When I open my blog to write a new blogpost, it always kindly says in the text box “What’s on your mind?”. Well, non-striving is on my mind! 😄
It’s been on my mind since we discussed it in the mindfulness meditation session I had at home last week. Non-striving is one of the attitudes being practiced in mindful awareness, and I must admit it feels a bit tricky to me right now! Non-striving is kind of opposite to the way most of us live. It is about not trying to get anywhere else. I see it as allowing things to happen as they happen, instead of forcing things to happen. I would also describe it as going with the flow of life. Not in a passive way of being, but rather as a clear decision being made about how to go about your life.
At the moment I am in the process of organising my yoga and mindfulness classes for the new year. I feel very aware that Christmas is around the corner and that most people have their focus on preparing for their Christmas celebrations – understandably not on making decisions about yoga classes. I suddenly realise I’d better step back instead of pushing forwards too much! In my experience, usually once I realise that I am forcing myself forwards and then see that it would be wiser to step back, that is when good things happen. If you have ever read anything by Eckhart Tolle, you will recognise his way of saying it: aligning yourself with life, with the universe, being in the Now, which is where you connect with the Power of Now. You are out of alignment? Well, events you would like to see happening may not happen for you. Those are the words I live by! (when I remember).
So I would like to go about it this way, and maybe this is something you would like to do too? To trust life, as best we can being more present in all the things we are doing, and kindly reminding ourselves there is no need to worry. We are exactly where we are supposed to be, right now. This is easier said than done. However, simply pausing and taking a few conscious breaths may help in feeling more content about finding ourselves where we are.
Luckily, I am going away for a few days now, I feel I am already getting some help to let go of my To Do list. Thank you life, my trip will definitely help me take my foot off the pedal!
