Monday, January 9, we will meet online.
Need Zoom tech support? Email Phyllis here.
(support available before sangha starts)
This Monday January 9, Ellen will facilitate.
As we begin this new year, I've been thinking about the popular annual ritual of creating new year's resolutions. The newspapers are filled with some resolutions collected from various folks, some quite lofty and some smaller goals. Many reflect the typical orientation of improving oneself, or improving the world. To my surprise, a few broke that mold and focused on the here & now, the importance of gratitude, etc. I used to write myself a few resolutions at the start of each new year that were aspirations for how I could do and be better. Yet they always felt ephemeral, not something that guided me in my days and weeks.
So I've been pondering about what the mindful approach to new year's resolutions would be. I asked myself how I could balance letting go of specific goals with my need to continue to work on being more mindful, compassionate, and kind. And I'm always pushing myself to improve my listening skills.
As it turns out, I do have one firm resolution: to start contributing to this sangha and taking some responsibility by offering to facilitate. I'd taken the training, but had been nervous about doing this and struggling with an insane job with crazy unpredictable hours that has made it hard for me to make an ongoing commitment. No more of that, I said to myself: I can't allow work to always come ahead of things like my deep commitment to the Opening Heart Mindfulness sangha. And so here goes (with a big thanks to Camille for her guidance and support).
I picked up all my books written by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) and related writers like Pema Chodron. I wanted to find the right reading that captured my "new year's resolution dilemma." I found two appropriate and inspiring readings:
First, from Thay’s book Happiness an excerpt from the section on "Beginning Anew:"
"To begin anew is to look deeply and honestly at ourselves, our past actions, speech and thoughts and to create a fresh beginning within ourselves and in our relationships with others. We practice Beginning Anew to clear our mind and keep our practice fresh....Beginning Anew helps us develop our kind speech and compassionate listening because it is a practice of recognition and appreciation of the positive elements within our Sangha. Recognizing others' positive traits allows us to see our own good qualities as well. Along with these good traits, we each have areas of weakness, such as talking out of our anger or being caught in our misperceptions.... We can practice Beginning Anew everyday by expressing our appreciation to the people in our community and apologizing right away when we do or say something that hurts them. We can politely let others know when we have been hurt as well. The health and happiness of the whole community depends on the harmony, peace and joy that exist between everyone."
I found inspiration in a second reading from a dear friend and mindfulness mentor we all share: Annie! I found my copy of Annie's book, "Words To Be With: Thoughts from Annie" written in 2010. Here's a very short excerpt from her January 2006 entry:
"Living lightly is a great way to start 2006. After letting go of what keeps us stuck, we can soar into the New Year and celebrate our ability to start anew. With this in mind, maybe you can meditate on the direction you would like to take...."
I love this concept of "beginning anew," and feel like it's the mindful, ongoing, consistent alternative to or addition for some to new year's resolutions.
A few questions for us to consider this evening:
1. How does this concept of "beginning anew" sit with you and how does it inspire you?
2. How do we balance the need to accept ourselves and "live lightly and let go" with the feelings so many have of the need to "fix" or improve ourselves?
3. Beginning anew must also include self-care: what have you found that brings you peace, ease, and joy?
I look forward to our conversation and know that if I forget anything in my first facilitation, the sangha will gently support me and guide me.