“Making the simple complicated is common place, but making the complicated simple is creativity.”
Charles Mingus
2012 has drawn to a close. It’s been a challenging year for most of us, a year of releasing the past and laying new foundations for the future. If you decide what you want to carry forward into the new year and what you want to leave behind, 2013 can begin with the simplicity of a single gesture.
Prune away old friendships that are toxic and cultivate relationships that make you a better person. Find your center and start over from the beginning with a new narrative. By peeling away old layers you’ll find your authenticity.
Commit to a daily practice. Be mindful of the present moment. Try not to be distracted by the superfluous. Be still. As Sylvia Boorstein says in her Buddhist meditation retreats, “Don’t just do something, sit there.” Slow down and take smaller steps. Travel inwards.
Ask yourself a lot of questions and don’t be afraid of your answers. What we fear to question is where we are afraid to be known. What are your voices of limitation? Where are your blind spots? When you are alone and no one is judging you, are you completely open and free? In what ways can you forgive yourself and others? In what ways can you help others? Where is the path with heart?
Remember, you always have a choice on where you focus. Turn away from cultural messages that cause fear. Choose to be nimble and hopeful, not stressed and grim. Every action you take, no matter how small, can be transformative. The reward will be a state of grace. What’s left will be a clear view.
