I’ve been practicing being as happy as I can possibly be in any circumstance. Inspired by an Open Air show, this idea has lit up my practice. In the show it was suggested that a caller who was unsuccessful at changing a difficult life situation might practice being as happy as they could be in that situation. As I listened, excitement arose to try this in areas of life that feel challenging for me.
What I love most about practicing with this is the immediate shift in attention that occurs. Instead of going along with conditioning’s steady stream of conversation, my attention moves to exploring how to practice being happy in the situation. That shift alone is life-changing.
As I work with it over the months, what assists me the most are the simple practices that we talk about all of the time--being as present as I can possibly be, directing attention to Life and away from all conditioned conversations, focusing on my breath, recording and listening ... The key, though, is to be willing to practice them in situations where I might normally feel somehow “justified” to go along with conditioned mind’s struggle. By remembering that I am practicing being as happy as I can be in ANY circumstance, I am more likely to tap into the willingness I need to make a different choice.
So far I’ve experienced amazing results and an underlying sense of joy with this practice so I am making it one of my practice commitments for the year and, of course, for life!
Gasshō,
Marie