Buddhism tells us nothing is permanent, that everything is in motion. It doesn’t mean we can sit back and relax though. It means instead that we have choice, even if that choice is where to put our attention and focus.
Do you like how pretty that flower is? What’s good about today’s weather? What teeny thing shifts your mind towards the good? What not-so-teeny thing is shifting your mind towards the good?
These ever so tiny aspects of life are what keep us going when there is truly nothing left. Think about those going through some of history’s worst times and consider how little they had in order to keep going – there’s very real reason Viktor Frankyl’s work has been so valuable post-holocaust. His observations about human nature in tough times are not only useful, but borne of a real knowing. Read his work if you’re looking for insights around doing life better with precious little hope going on.
Biographies from those going through awful times almost always speak to relationships and choice of focus. If you’re struggling with relationships during pandemic days, look to your choice of focus. If you’re struggling with what you have to focus on, look to the contextual aspects of your relationships.
Remember it really is the little things that reorient your sense of ok-ness. It’s up to you to choose life, to decide you’re going to find the goodness in life and live into that goodness.
The Buddhists are right – nothing is permanent – not this pain, not this joy. Mental fitness isn’t about being great all the time, it’s about stepping back when you need to and stepping forward wherever you can.
Physical fitness also has it’s limits. Did you sprain you ankle and miss the race? Then you probably let your ankle heal before racing again – so if you’re out of mental fitness, take the time you need to heal the pain before racing again. We don’t live to our best selves all day every day – that’s a non-sense. Instead we take time to replenish and orient, we make effort to create greatness for our lives. Doing it for your heart and soul is just as normal and important as it is to do it for your body.
