Another one bites the dust...
Well 2004 is now behind us, and 2005 is moving ahead full steam. In the spirit of Buckminster Fuller I plan to treat this year as an experiment in human nature. Mainly, I plan to write in my journal a lot more in order to track thoughts and ideas throughout the year and at different points. At various times throughout the year I will reflect on the past months and draw some conclusions. In the end I may use the information to write a Chautauqua. No, this is not a New Years resolution, just something I decided to try, and the beginning of the year is a good time to start.
As for New Years resolutions, I do believe they are important. While we always need to focus on what we are doing, sometimes we need to make a special occasion to focus even harder. Every now and then we need reminders of what we are doing, otherwise we get caught up in the day to day and forget about it. My new years resolution is simple: I will be more mindful. This means a lot of things, one of which is being more aware of my breathing, an meditating throughout the day, not just in special sessions. When I am angry, stressed, nervous, or in any other negative state, I will return to focus on my breathing. I began doing this at the end of last year, and it can be very effective. Of course, the goal is to eliminate such feelings, but a first step is to prevent feelings from overwhelming actions.
The big obstacle for the year that I hope to overcome with more focused mindfulness is a lack of compassion. While I have a very compassionate appearance, there are seeds of anger deep within that I carry about with me. For instance, the inability of others to act in ways that make things easier and better for those around them. Things such as bad driving, and groups of people standing in a hall way blocking it while talking. Normally these things make me very angry, and I have developed a negative and seperatist view of the rest of society. When something bad happens, instead of trying to help the situation or learning from it, I just think about how it backs up my theory that the "mindless mass" sucks. That lack of compassion is very unhealty, and I plan to change it.
I do have a large amount of compassion in other areas, its only seeing through external appearances that I have a problem with. Someone does something bad; its because they are suffering. I have not yet reached a point where I can see that. When I see someone do something bad, I automatically label them as mistaken and feel some form of anger (light or heavy) toward them. I would like to be in a state where I sense their suffering, and maybe even think of ways to assist. Sounds crazy I'm sure, but its just a slightly different way of reacting. And a more effective one for myself and others.
My attempt to be more focused and mindful will be directed at many things including the little things throughout the day that most of us do via conditioning. Brushing my teeth, eating, even walking can all be done more mindfully than I currently do them.
As you may have noticed I also decided to stop avoiding capitalizing I when describing myself. It has offered no extra assistance in realizing the nature of my ego, and from a logical point of view it could have a negative effect on my writing professionally. Therefore I have decided to discontinue doing it.
In an attempt to follow the path I think I should, I will also begin to acknowledge and follow the eightfold path of buddhism. Let me remind you that I do not consider my self a buddhist, I just think that a lot of their ideas make sense. Take for example the following listing of the eightfold path, I don't see how it could lead to anything but personal improvement and a healthy attitude:
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
For a complete explanation, check out this webpage.
I have laid the foundation for a successful year of focus and understanding by creating this personal contract of sorts...and now it is time to begin.
As for New Years resolutions, I do believe they are important. While we always need to focus on what we are doing, sometimes we need to make a special occasion to focus even harder. Every now and then we need reminders of what we are doing, otherwise we get caught up in the day to day and forget about it. My new years resolution is simple: I will be more mindful. This means a lot of things, one of which is being more aware of my breathing, an meditating throughout the day, not just in special sessions. When I am angry, stressed, nervous, or in any other negative state, I will return to focus on my breathing. I began doing this at the end of last year, and it can be very effective. Of course, the goal is to eliminate such feelings, but a first step is to prevent feelings from overwhelming actions.
The big obstacle for the year that I hope to overcome with more focused mindfulness is a lack of compassion. While I have a very compassionate appearance, there are seeds of anger deep within that I carry about with me. For instance, the inability of others to act in ways that make things easier and better for those around them. Things such as bad driving, and groups of people standing in a hall way blocking it while talking. Normally these things make me very angry, and I have developed a negative and seperatist view of the rest of society. When something bad happens, instead of trying to help the situation or learning from it, I just think about how it backs up my theory that the "mindless mass" sucks. That lack of compassion is very unhealty, and I plan to change it.
I do have a large amount of compassion in other areas, its only seeing through external appearances that I have a problem with. Someone does something bad; its because they are suffering. I have not yet reached a point where I can see that. When I see someone do something bad, I automatically label them as mistaken and feel some form of anger (light or heavy) toward them. I would like to be in a state where I sense their suffering, and maybe even think of ways to assist. Sounds crazy I'm sure, but its just a slightly different way of reacting. And a more effective one for myself and others.
My attempt to be more focused and mindful will be directed at many things including the little things throughout the day that most of us do via conditioning. Brushing my teeth, eating, even walking can all be done more mindfully than I currently do them.
As you may have noticed I also decided to stop avoiding capitalizing I when describing myself. It has offered no extra assistance in realizing the nature of my ego, and from a logical point of view it could have a negative effect on my writing professionally. Therefore I have decided to discontinue doing it.
In an attempt to follow the path I think I should, I will also begin to acknowledge and follow the eightfold path of buddhism. Let me remind you that I do not consider my self a buddhist, I just think that a lot of their ideas make sense. Take for example the following listing of the eightfold path, I don't see how it could lead to anything but personal improvement and a healthy attitude:
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
For a complete explanation, check out this webpage.
I have laid the foundation for a successful year of focus and understanding by creating this personal contract of sorts...and now it is time to begin.
posted by Sean at
8:55 PM
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