As we go through life, many of us hope to move forward in our goals and also sometimes to create new and more encompassing goals that might aid in creating a sense of fulfillment or achievement in our lives.
Looking at the big picture sometimes can be a big help in this task, and some of these thoughts might be useful.
These thoughts are perhaps about our future, and might be about our attention as much as about our actions or activities.
When we attend to our course and its’ direction, the specific actions, like steering a little to the right or to the left, might become more obvious to us.
Seeing farther ahead sometimes helps us take a more direct and efficient path, with perhaps less sidetracking and backsliding.
Balancing the Load
What is too little, what is too much, and of course, what is just right?
The response to these questions about effort are complex and constantly changing.
By attending to our level of energy or exhaustion we might better find the path between wasting our time (too little) and exhausting or hurting ourselves, or losing our sense of balance (too much).
Either extreme can be less than optimal. Add to this that the best solution is constantly changing.
This balance always depends upon noticing its’ absence and the sooner it is noticed, the better.
The physical balance necessary for good, efficient movement in T’ai Chi or any activity is just kindergarten, a starting place or point, when compared to the emotional and spiritual balance required to chart a more optimal Course through our lives.
In these situations the stakes for not paying attention to our state of balance can be much higher.
Once again, the sooner we notice when we start to lose our balance the easier it is to correct and the more optimal the path becomes.
This is the Real T’ai Chi through life.
Slowing Down, Working in our Environment
If you don’t tell people what you want, how will they know?
Even more important, you do need to know what it is that you want.
This is sometimes the tricky part.
Often we think that we know, and find ourselves not getting the expected outcome.
The solution to this oft occurring situation is to Slow Down.
“Measure twice and cut once,” as the carpenters say.
A little more time and thoughtfulness can go a long way.
Usually the optimal solution should work for all concerned!
Being or feeling out of balance can be a very useful warning sign to slow down and maybe assess a situation with fresh eyes, perhaps after seeking emotional balance first, from which to act.
Wishing a Great New Year to All,
Namaste, Daniel
