Almost everything we do, we do for a purpose, to get something or somewhere. In contrast, the essence of mindfulness is BEING vs. DOING. When we are striving, we are living in the past and the future. When we are non-striving, we live in the present moment.
Why push so hard
Why keep your head down
Why sprint when you can run or jog
There is a world out there calling for your attention
Moments longing to be loved
Tasks longing to be attended to
Skies longing to be gazed at
Leaves yearning to be crunched
This openness allows the world in
There for the taking
Moment by moment
And breath by breath
“Moment by Moment” – Ruth Farenga
We are not born with a need to strive. Though it is in our nature as a universal being to want to do more, be more, and have more, that instinct is not under pressure until we are taught at a very young age that we should strive to be better, to achieve, to get somewhere else. That sense of needing to strive is different from the desire to become more of who we truly are.
We are talking in this series about cultivating mindfulness and the benefits of doing that. The best way to cultivate mindfulness is through a mindfulness meditation practice. So far we have looked at:
- Non-Judging,
- Patience,
- Beginner’s Mind, and
- Trust
Non-striving is the 5th point of view or pillar of this practice. It is one of seven ways that we can support our effort to cultivate mindfulness. All seven of these are integrated and form the “infrastructure” needed to support us. While striving is helpful in our daily life in this world of duality, it is not helpful in a meditation process. The essence of this shift of perceptions and attitudes is that we emphasize being rather than doing.
Non-striving means that we don’t try to change anything! We simply see things as they are, accept ourselves for who we are, and are available for what is happening now. We set aside our goals and just practice this way of seeing the world with acceptance, which leads us toward our next pillar, which is acceptance.
The more you strive and search for happiness, the more you overlook the possibility that it is here already.”
Robert Holden, “Be Happy”
Please share this article on your social media sites and through email with anyone you think would benefit. Thanks!!