The New Year begins, and amongst new resolutions and remnants of the previous years to dos, we start with a bunch of things on our (already overloaded) plate
And more often than not (statistically) things go back to the old routine, resolutions and to dos being replaced by what fires we are fighting at this time. It almost seems that circumstances make it unavoidable to follow the routines we thought are the best to organize our life. What were we thinking?
This year, I have been contemplating on downsizing. Not the stuff I have accumulated over the years. Its there where it has been for years and downsizing is just one more thing I have to add to my to do list. I am not talking about de-cluttering, there may be some of that needed, but no need to throw away things in a haste, just to find later we were a little too enthusiastic.
Downsizing is downsizing the to do list. What do I really have to do, and what is something that I can afford to jettison. Or maybe reduce the time and mind space I spend on a certain item. Where can I find space, space for myself. Space I can use the way I want to. Physical and specifically mind Space.
The mind is an interesting instrument. It fills in things to do if there is not a specific engagement that it has at any given time. Fills it with unnecessary talks and discussion, random browsing, day dreaming or night-maring, stress eating, worrying about an assumed future (with all the variations), the list goes on. And there will always be that one thing that is … well, something I need to put some mind space in to. And in more cases than not, the time for those random distractions take much more time than what we expect. And then everything is pushed out.. and this goes on.
The challenge is then to relieve some minds pace. Takes a willingness, a genuine desire to remove those things that are not necessary. The Upanishads talk about regulation and specifically to start with the senses. Control the tongue and free some time from no good talks and no good eating, the ears from hearing to those no good talks, the eyes can do with a little less idiot box time…
Rejoice if you can find that space. Its a struggle, to first find it and then to keep it. Even if its 15 minutes its a huge battle won. That space is yours now. We can discuss what to do with that time, but for now, lets just enjoy that time.
Happy New Year!