Discovery
“To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation.”
Bertrand Russell
We have all had our share of disagreements and found ourselves at odds with someone, convinced that we are right and the other is wrong. This can be an internal conflict between different parts of ourselves, or an external conflict in a relationship with another human. The irony is that the other part of you, or the other person, most likely feels exactly the same way. Being right is oftentimes not based on truth, but on what we believe to be true. To be in discovery is to be curious and create a space for wonder; to be curiously engaged in a conversation is to truly understand the other person even if you don’t agree with what they are saying. Just as you do, the other people in your life believe what they are saying to be true, so instead of listening from “that’s your opinion,” or even making a moral or value judgement on what they are saying, consider that what they are telling you IS TRUE for them.
Get interested in others’ perspectives. Ask yourself which parts of you need your attention. Be curious with other people and their perspectives. In any moment where our beliefs are concrete or fixed, where we are right with no room to learn or grow, our rightness becomes our dominant way. It can be so strong that it’s grip narrows our ability to fully understand or even get something from a different point of view.
Create wonder in all areas of your life. To discover is to find or learn something for the first time. Mindfulness teaches the value of having a “beginner’s mind” – a space where there is little or no expectation and there can be clarity in the moment by releasing control and giving into what is.
How can you lean in to discovery through curiosity? As you ponder this question, think of different parts of yourself, or a particular person that you may be having some sort of conflict with. This may being up uncomfortable sensations in your body. Can you sit with them for a moment? Can you allow the discomfort and choose to discover a new way to interact with those parts or that person?
My wish for you is that you enjoy finding a new discovery.
With Love and Joy,
Sheila