One of the most powerful choices we have is where we put our attention. This is always within our control, it is always available to us and the flow from this decision permeates all aspects of our days and lives. Essentially, the regularity and consistency of where we focus adds up – it creates the canvas of our living, it is the centre of our experiences and the meaning of our lives.
This simple zen story emphasises just how important our attention is…
“One day while walking through the jungle a person stumbled upon avicious tiger. They ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate, the person climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice. As they hung there, two mice unexpectedly appeared and began gnawing on the vine. Suddenly, the person noticed that on the vine was a plump wild strawberry. They plucked it and popped it in their mouth. It was incredibly delicious!”
Honestly, when I first heard this parable I was so taken with the drama, the certain death and the working out how to escape a seemingly inescapable scenario that I truly did not appreciate the strawberry – frankly, it did not seem to be helping the situation. Lol. If this is where my attention was being captivated, imagine how I was navigating my real life….!
Fortunately, I have been able to learn and deepen my understanding so that now, it’s the strawberry that’s my focus, my appreciation and where my attention is held – it is rich, ripe, juicy and delicious. Despite all the distractions around me, I try to go there first, I try to seek out the joy and the power in what will support my best life right now and I try to be active with this choice.
This week, consider auditing your attention, get to know where you are placing it, with awareness and insight – is it automatic, do you just go along with it? or are you consciously making a choice and is that choice supportive of how you want to be living?
Consider if there are any changes you’d like to make, any gentle shifts that will champion the way you want your life to show up for you and in the meantime, be aware and conscious of the distractions that may whisk you away from what matters most.
Lots of love,
Jo x