When we believe that happiness should take a particular form, we fail to see the opportunities for joy that are right in front of us. —Thich Nhat Hanh
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Just Swingin'
From the Gill Tarot, Strength; from The Circle, Happiness:
According to Gill, the lion represents our animal nature - our primitive drives that often appear when we are angry or fearful. Such intense emotions can't be repressed or ignored without consequence (note the bones in the background of the card). But we can learn to focus on the physical sensations they cause in our body and stay out of the story lines in our head. By doing so, we give ourselves a mental pause, allowing logic to get back in the driver's seat. The Happiness card suggests a freedom that comes from living in the moment without being tied to the past or the future. Added to Strength, it brings to mind the words of Pema Chodron: "Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness." In those moments, free from desire and clinging, we find peace and happiness.
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The quote and advice from Pema are good words to hear.
ReplyDeleteShe is a wise teacher! :)
Deleteour paleontologist on the dig asked us over lunch, what we'd expected. I said I tried not to anticipate at all, that way lies disappointment and I knew it would be so much better than I could imagine.
ReplyDeleteI bet that response was one not often heard. Reminds me of the lojong slogan, "Abandon any hope of fruition."
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