Are you up for a challenge? A change?
I just returned from vacationing on Vancouver Island and the general Vancouver area and I have to admit that I thought I was prepared for the physical challenges of the trip, boy was I wrong.
Here’s what the Sea to Summit website says, "Intermediate/Advanced. Some steep & challenging sections. Requires fixed rope lines to assist you at certain sections. Not recommended for downhill travel."
Okay, so, I read the above description AFTER I did the trail!
7.5 km, 918 vertical meters
$15 gondola ride back down = PRICELESS!
It was ONE tough, physical, mental and spiritual challenge!
Talk about a body meets mind, meets emotions, back to body, kind of journey! Wow! It was amazing and empowering and strengthening!
So I got to thinking about the summer and our habits and routines and how last month we talked about learning new habits...see my post How to Make Stillness and Deep Breathing a Habit.
Summer is here and it's time for a change.
Kids and teachers are almost out of school, more people are getting outside and changing things up. Routines are disrupted.
You may feel a little off kilter, or relieved, as routines are shifted and program sessions end. What better time to build on last month's theme of building new habits.
This is your time. Time to shift your perspective, try something new, change the shape of your day.
Write a list of things that you'd like to try, maybe something you've been putting off.
Try that new restaurant.
Go to a different park for your walk.
Try a pottery class or painting class, learn an instrument.
Love to read? Try reading a different genre.
Call up an old friend.
And, let's get back to our Beginner's Mind.
When something is new and it becomes a discovery or exploration, and if we can approach it without judgement, or, like I learned on my climb, release limiting attitudes and beliefs about it, we can grow and develop.
I really had to get over my thoughts about the hike being too hard or that I wasn't fast enough or strong enough. I had to take one step at a time, use my senses to take in the beautiful environment and get back to being present.
While I hiked, I realize that I actually became more of a human BEING than a human DOING.
This actually points to the freshness of the Beginner's Mind. It's like a child's mind and their ability to try out new things without judgement. We don't have to know it all. We don't have to be perfect.
So try using your beginner's mind with your actions, thoughts and experiences and then try it in your meditation time. In meditation we can open up to experience new insights, our intuition, and our curious, pure, energetic selves when we let go of judgement and analysis.
This is what being in the moment is all about.
Being in the now.
Tapping into pure potential.
You might just discover something new.
Maybe you'll find a new superpower!