Thursday, January 3, 2008

Courage


Courage is not about changing anything or grasping for some better state.
It's the valor of being truly present.
Joseph Goldstein


When I am stuck in obsessing about what's missing or what's wrong it's helpful to go down into my body to the sensation under the story. Being truly present with the sensation, usually some kind of contraction coming from fear, allows it to release. Each time I notice my mind spinning back into the story (which may be many times in the space of a few minutes) I gently use my breath to return to the sensation. When I stay with it, I notice the contraction lessens and the story stops. Then it is important to appreciate my courage for doing something more loving than my usual pattern.

No comments: