"The way I see it, we have two basic choices. We can say “Yes” to life. Or we can say “No.”
Perhaps, but only if we are attempting to live our lives from our rational conscious mind. Philip Shepherd in his book, Radical Wholeness, describes how we have "two brains" - the rational 'head brain' and the intuitive 'gut brain.' These two centers of consciousness are linked by the vagus nerve.
The problem, of course, is in our hyper rational Western world, we attempt to sublimate and shame our emotional intelligence and listen only to our rational mind that is designed specifically to discern dicotomy rather than wholeness. Constantly being tasked to make a choice is exhausting and anxiety ridden.
Philip suggests we need to return to and honor our bodies and the vast wisdom of our guts. Of course, in a modern world we need both wisdoms and harmony is experienced when there is a healthy balance between the two.
"Disconnected from the body’s intelligence, we also disconnect from the wholeness of the present. This schism within us is the primary source of stress not just in our personal lives, but for the systems of the planet."
We authentically live only in the present moment. That is the key to fulfillment and grace.
Thank you for your well thought out comment. I say yes to living in the present moment.
Complaining and anger are all about the past, where we remember and take exception to something that “done us wrong.” Worry and fear is about the future, “where something is GONNA do us wrong. Only in the present, free of anger and fear, can we even come close to free.
Being in the present moment does not necessarily shield us from anger and fear, but they are experienced as simply momentary responses to real time threats. As the Buddha explained, it is the clinging that causes us suffering. We cannot be in the moment in our head for it will imagine, as you state, threats from both the past and future and magnify them to keep our attention. "Keep it simple" and stay in your body's sensations and wisdom.
"The way I see it, we have two basic choices. We can say “Yes” to life. Or we can say “No.”
Perhaps, but only if we are attempting to live our lives from our rational conscious mind. Philip Shepherd in his book, Radical Wholeness, describes how we have "two brains" - the rational 'head brain' and the intuitive 'gut brain.' These two centers of consciousness are linked by the vagus nerve.
The problem, of course, is in our hyper rational Western world, we attempt to sublimate and shame our emotional intelligence and listen only to our rational mind that is designed specifically to discern dicotomy rather than wholeness. Constantly being tasked to make a choice is exhausting and anxiety ridden.
Philip suggests we need to return to and honor our bodies and the vast wisdom of our guts. Of course, in a modern world we need both wisdoms and harmony is experienced when there is a healthy balance between the two.
"Disconnected from the body’s intelligence, we also disconnect from the wholeness of the present. This schism within us is the primary source of stress not just in our personal lives, but for the systems of the planet."
We authentically live only in the present moment. That is the key to fulfillment and grace.
https://embodiedpresent.com/pages/radical-wholeness-workshop
Thank you for your well thought out comment. I say yes to living in the present moment.
Complaining and anger are all about the past, where we remember and take exception to something that “done us wrong.” Worry and fear is about the future, “where something is GONNA do us wrong. Only in the present, free of anger and fear, can we even come close to free.
Being in the present moment does not necessarily shield us from anger and fear, but they are experienced as simply momentary responses to real time threats. As the Buddha explained, it is the clinging that causes us suffering. We cannot be in the moment in our head for it will imagine, as you state, threats from both the past and future and magnify them to keep our attention. "Keep it simple" and stay in your body's sensations and wisdom.