Agency: January 18 - 24

Mindfulness is the remedy to feeling adrift in these times of uncertainty.

Enlightenment is an accident and

mindfulness makes us accident prone.

Tim Burkett

I'm currently studying with Jonathan Foust in a program called a Year of Living Mindfully. Jonathan shared this quote to illustrate while enlightenment (or transcendence or grace) isn't something we can make happen, we do have the ability to cultivate the conditions for it. I think of this as agency, the theme for this week's reflection.

At the start of a retreat day or a period of meditation, Jonathan will ask us to reflect on how we want to feel by the end. This is such a great question to inspire agency.

When I wake up in the morning, what do I hope to have experienced at the other end of the day If I'm going into a work meeting, how do I want to show up? If I'm having a conversation with a loved one, what do I want to embody? Setting an intention beforehand, makes a huge difference. Take a moment to consider how you want to be this day. More compassionate? More open-hearted? More creative? More focused? More centered? Remember, you always have the freedom to sleepwalk through this day or to decide to be truly engaged.

Practice

Pause before you launch into the next moment. Put your hand on your heart to check in within yourself. Take a few breaths to focus your energy on the here and now. Acknowledge the swirl of thoughts, worries, headlines, and stories already calling for your attention. There is no need to control them or ignore them or give into them. Before you respond, give yourself permission to listen quietly to what is most important. Take a moment or two to become centered.

Now trust your inner wisdom to guide you. What is most alive? What aligns with the desires of you heart? How can you best serve? What new thing is waiting to break through? Where do you need more guidance? What would bring you joy? What is love saying to you? Listen for the answers beyond the words and thoughts. Wait until a knowing emerges.

After insight surfaces, set your intention. Write it on your heart or an index card. Keep it in your pocket. Whisper it to the universe. Speak it to a friend. Imagine how it will appear. Allow it to shape your actions and guide your thoughts. At the end of the day, notice if it came true. The secret is in the noticing. Practice again tomorrow.