It is righteously easy to fall into the trap of automatic judgment that could bring us down an unhelpful path. In practicing mindfulness, the encouragement is to embrace a beginner’s mind, approaching each moment, especially those that trigger us to be on survival mode, with curiosity and openness. When we drop pre-conceived notions and assumptions, we see things as they are, not as we expect them to be. This heightened awareness potentially enriches our experience of and connection to the present moment, opening ourselves up to see more possibilities. This new habit also helps us to respond to challenges with more calmness and clarity. Cultivating a beginner’s mind is not about forgetting what we know but about holding our experiences lightly and allowing other possibilities.
For A New Beginning (extract), John O’Donahue
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back,
learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
Guide: Noelle Lim
Image credit: Max Ogden, Unsplash
Kindermind Center 