What Novel Things are Opening Up for You?

Maypop, a species of Passion flowers. May, 2020.

I was inspired toward an inner inquiry after I excitedly welcomed the first bloom on a Passion flower in my yard. I was so mesmerized the first time I saw one of these markedly distinct flowers, I immediately conjured up the belief that they had to be from another planet! The plant in my yard is chock full of blooms for the first time in the three years I’ve tended it.

The bloom arrived simultaneously with the second phase of opening in our community, and a push to clear away 7+ years of ivy overgrowth and thick forest duft in preparation of the upcoming fire season and to reveal--to open up--the all-elusive forest floor.

All this prompted me to inquire: All this opening going on, I'm curious, what is opening up for me? And what about others--what is opening up for them right now?

Rather than go into a long written inquiry, I decided to go inward with a mindfulness practice and explore directly what was opening in my heart, mind and body.

(You can explore a guided version of this practice HERE.)

The pandemic has shut down many things, this is true, but nature was still operating as nature does--and in some ways better. Maybe I was, too.

Clearing away decades of forest litter and ivy overgrowth to reveal the essential nature of the forest floor. Cobb Mountain. May, 2020.

 
The pandemic has shut down many things, this is true, but nature was still operating as nature does--and in some ways better. Maybe I was, too. Certainly my heart, mind and body hadn’t shut down. Maybe things were healing, like what was happening around the planet.

Time being diverted from usual distractions, plus a deepening commitment to practice and staying engaged in the moment, has opened up a lot of novel subtle experiences that weren’t available in my previous fast paced life. What was the nature of my being while on the cusp of and in the midst of re-opening parts of our community?

I was pleasantly surprised with what I discovered! These are just a few insights from that experiential inquiry:

• My breathing is much easier and fuller.
• My body is engaged in ramping up in strength and activity, as it does during warmer, longer days.
• My mind is opening to unthought of possibilities for life, work and enjoyment.
• My heart is even more pulled toward nature, the forest creatures and beauty.
• My emotions are open to the preciousness and beauty of my surroundings, relationships, the planet and my life.

I don't know about you, but I’m reluctant to “return to normal.” These new insights and experiences offer a path to more delight, meaning and fulfillment. If a majority of my efforts in life are about finding meaning and happiness and those ways aren't working--for myself and others--then why, oh why, should I? Why would I want to altar that path and let it cover back over with the detritus of old ways? No, it’s time for redefining not only on an individual level, but on broader, community level, because my guess is I'm not alone.

I’m curious to know, what is opening up for you at this time? Are you anxiously and excitedly looking to return to how things were, or is there a new path opening that is more inviting? I'd love if you'd share your discoveries here so we can learn together!

(P.S. If you'd like to explore this moment and your direction more fully, you may want to register for the upcoming "Sowing Seeds of Intention" half day retreat. It may be a perfect time to explore, clarify and commit to a more fulfilling path forward!)

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Photo by Nathan DeHart Photography.

JoAnn Saccato, MA, is a certified teacher with the Mindfulness Training Institute, life coach, author and consultant. She is the author of Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice and Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace Clarity and Freedom.

Mindfulness is an umbrella term used for a large body of popular health and wellness practices based on purposefully bringing a curious, kind and non-judgmental attention to moment by moment experience. It is a scientifically proven approach that helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, reduce relapses in addiction, and aids in sleep and digestive disorders. It has also been shown to increase well being, life satisfaction and happiness, as well as improved social relationships.

You can reach JoAnn at [email protected]. To follow her visit: www.MindfulAndIntentionalLiving.com