Monday, April 12, 2021
Whenever life gets busy, you might sense a feeling of anxiety that accompanies all of that activity. Stress often arises within, as activity increases in your life. This happens frequently to me if I have one of those days with back-to-back appointments, looming deadlines, and too many things on the to-do list. As the external experience ramps up, so does the internal whirlwind of thought, accompanied by a thumping pulse. Yet I wish I didn’t have to experience both outer busyness and inner turmoil. I believe there is a way to be busy, externally, but not to be frantic and distraught, internally.
There’s a zen saying that goes, “hurry up, slowly.” I believe this refers to the choice to remain absolutely present, with each incoming activity. When activity gets busy, the inner body needs your attention. The inner body is an awareness, an anchor, a feeling of connection to the present moment. When the mind tries to “take off” and fly in many directions, the inner body helps you pinpoint the center of peace, focus, and connection to oneness. When you connect to the inner body, you’ll find that you will end up enjoying the activity – not because the activity is stimulating, because often it’s not, but because you’re practicing the art of inner peace. Many times, I find myself looking forward to lots of external stimulation, so that I can practice connecting to the inner body to maintain presence, and to be calm and stable. Most of the busyness we experience from day to day is not terribly weighty or important anyway, so keep yourself grounded, no matter what kind of busyness arises. By doing so, you create a channel of peace and joy that will come through you, rather than stress and irritability. I prefer to be in control of my inner peace, even when life gets ramped up. Give it a try – you may enjoy being busy, but in a different kind of way!