#86 Practice daily, measure progress on average

“Is this really important right now?” I ask myself, as another distraction passes through my head.

I imagine an old wise man, disturbed from his task at hand, looking up.

“No? Can you come back later then, at a more appropriate time? Thank you very much.”

Back to work he goes.

“Is this really a life-threatening event?” I ask myself, as another anxiety-inducing thought intrudes my mind.

I imagine the same old wise man, fending off a harassing distraction.

“No? Can you come back with a message more appropriate to the severity of the event? Thank you very much.”

On with life he goes.

If only it were that easy, my friend.

The distracted, anxious, worried mind tends to fight back. I’m taking the liberty to assume you’ve also noticed that at some point in your life.

Nevertheless, I believe we can, nay, we must fight back.

Not that I’m advocating suppression.

Excited, worried, sanguine, anxious, passionate, defeated: let them have their moment of attention – at the appropriate time.

Maybe it’s all about the art of making all the selves get along?

I imagine the old wise man, who has mastered that art.

I know I’m not that old wise man yet.

But I could be, if I make it a point to practice every day.

And so could you, if you make it a point to practice every day.

If that’s something that’s important to you, of course. That’s for you to decide, in your personal situation and in your personal life.

Today is your lucky day, my friend.
Or at least, it could be, depending on how you interpret what will happen.

Today is your worst day ever, my friend.
Or at least, it could be, depending on how you interpret what will happen.

The choice is yours. It has always been.

P.S. I don’t know about you, but weirdly enough, being able to decide over your luck didn’t feel like a relief to me at first.

That’s a good topic for another day…

If I want to act differently, I let go of the past.

If I want to act the same way I always did, I cling to the past.

Both clinging and letting go have their place.

I could cling to a habit of eating healthily, or treating others with kindness.

But maybe I could let go of a habit of self-criticism.

What benefits me? What benefits others?

What harms me? What harms others?

Who do I want to be?

When you outsource your happiness, you’ll always be under stress.