“I have lived with several Zen masters – all of them cats”
Eckhart Tolle
The above quote from Eckhart Tolle made me smile and want to drop my shoulders and b.r.e.a.t.h.e. (The word ‘Zen derives from the school of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism. A practice that maintains an emphasis on the value of meditation and intuition).
Have you ever noticed how Zen kitties can be? When they are not playing or eating. They lay wherever they choose and take in their surroundings. All whilst purring, grooming and ultimately chilling. Cats innately know when they need to stay alert to protect themselves. They are also in tune with what it is like to feel safe and secure. They seem to have just the right balance!
For humans, finding balance or maintaining a calm state of mind presents more challenges. Unlike most domestic cats, we exist in a fast-paced and frenetic world, which demands that we are switched ON most of the time. Text messages and emails often need to be answered right away. We have deadlines at work and at home.
All of the above, combined with excessive screen time encourages a state of constant doing, doing, doing. Being switched ‘ON’ so much is hard on the body and the mind. We miss out on many of the simplest moments in life; we can’t always hear ourselves. Burnout and stress are common. This can result in issues with sleep or exhaustion more generally. When we reach this point, even regular tasks can feel overwhelming. We may gain weight, experience increased cravings, body tension and much much more.
So how do we seek out some balance and a more Zen state of mind when we are busy and always switched on? We can be more mindful with technology. We can take regular breaks, turn our phones off and or leave them in another room (especially at night) Tell your employers, children or whomever may need to get in touch that you that are taking a short break.
If you would like to progress this idea further, take some time to look at your life as a whole. Divide all the key points up into sections. For example:
- Family
- Work
- Social
- Downtime
- Movement / Exercise
Figure out how much time you are spending in each of your chosen areas. (Adapt as needed) Writing this down or drawing a simple pie chart allows us to visualise what is really happening. It can be eye-opening and motivational in creating more balance and effecting change.
Creating Zen Moments: Find a quiet spot and take a seat. Gently close your eyes and begin to pay attention to your breath. Don’t change anything at all. Just observe the current pattern. Whilst doing this, thoughts may arise. Don’t worry or judge them, just let them be present. Give them permission to pass without attachment. Think of them as leaves floating down a stream or as clouds in the sky passing you by. Practice for as long as you wish and as much at you want.
A simple exercise like this can quickly reset our state of mind, help relax the body and bring more clarity. Let us all tap into our inner feline a little more. All the kitties highly recommend it as do I.
With love & light,
Justine
