I was looking at my list of items to accomplish today. As I pondered the list, an overwhelming sense of dread began to build. Each task, while necessary, feels like a small chip away at my freedom, making my free spirit feel hemmed in.
This dichotomy between spiritual understanding and daily tasks often leaves me pondering: How much doing is enough? Knowing that everyone is precious and loved doesn’t always translate into me treating my to-do list with the same reverence. Realizing there are preferences I have been conditioned to look for in every moment does not necessarily allow me to receive each moment without preference. For instance, when I was working on staying focused to write this post this morning, I kept being drawn to ponder lunch, reading a new book I have, and taking a walk. My preference in that moment was facing the challenge I was in by escaping to the next anything out there!
In the end, I set aside the writing because I couldn’t fully focus. After tending to other chores on my to-do list and checking off several items, I returned to writing with greater clarity. Admittedly, seeing the challenge of a preference does not always mean I can move through it to accomplish what is in front of me.
What do I do?
The good news is realizing that my approach to each moment is unique, merely one way among many. Recognizing that moments unfold independently of my actions offers me a broader perspective. Having recognized that I am receiving this moment through my own lens and that I have no causal relationship to the arising of the moment and of my manifestation in the moment, I receive this moment in a more expansive way. In recognizing these patterns, I find a new approach to my daily tasks. Rather than seeing them as a burden, tasks become opportunities to practice being present and appreciative of the moment.
Further, I recognize that I have naturally learned to live in a destination mentality, that I am on my way to something better, something more. This mentality often makes me overlook the present, constantly seeking a future that seems more fulfilling. There is nothing I can know more than this very moment in which I find myself. This moment contains what I need as much as any other moment has or will; staying with this moment gives me the gift of now and here.
It’s practice for a reason. It’s not about ‘succeeding’ in every moment, but about remaining aware and responsive to what unfolds.
Questions for Reflection:
- Reflecting on Daily Tasks: “How do you balance your daily responsibilities with staying present in the moment? Can mundane tasks be transformed into opportunities for mindfulness?”
- Dealing with Preferences and Distractions: “What are some strategies you use to manage preferences and distractions that arise while tackling your to-do list? How do you maintain focus in moments of challenge?”
- Living in the Present: “In what ways do you find yourself caught up in a ‘destination mentality’? How can embracing the present moment change your perspective on your daily routine and overall life satisfaction?”
Infinitely Precious 