internal inconsistencies
In the not too distant past, I’ve talked about why my life changed. The first couple weeks after were really intense, discovering all the differences. Now that some time has passed, things are settling down some. I’m settling down some. And I’m noticing some things that I didn’t notice before, may not have noticed before. When I get on the mat at the dojo, everything else in the world goes away, or stops. Nothing occupies my thoughts during that time except for what is right in front of me on the mat. When class is over and I leave the dojo, I feel completely different - refreshed, centered - as if I’ve reoriented my world differently and I’m no longer worrying about this or thinking about that - I’m still centered in the moment.
Which has got me thinking. If things shift and are like this when I’m in the dojo, why aren’t I doing that all the time? This very same thing happens to me frequently when I go to the local botanic gardens. So, if I can live like that for at least short periods of time, why can’t I do that all the time? In the dojo, at the gardens, riding my motorcycle, everything else that might be causing me stress is put aside for a while, left behind while I’m there and for a while afterward as well. Why can’t I do that when I go to work? Or get in the car to drive somewhere? Or get home from work? Or the store? Or any where else?
The short answer is, I can. The fact that I have done it once means I can do it again. I am slowly learning how to bring it into the rest of my life as well. It’s all about the mindset.