Morning Motivation: Listening to Our Feelings about Balance

Every day, our body reminds us about balance. The body thrives in a temperature that’s not too hot or too cold, with just enough food and water (not too much or too little), just enough light (not blinding or pitch darkness), just enough oxygen, etc. We know that our body has reached a basic balance when we simply feel comfortable – not hungry, not thirsty, not sleepy, etc. I believe our feelings are also excellent guides when ensuring that the mind is in balance, too. For example, if we’re feeling frustrated during light-hearted conversations, pressured to continually steer the conversation toward a particular topic (e.g., politics, sports, the economy, climate change, etc.), then the mind might need a break. Or if we’re thinking so deeply about spirituality that we start feeling less interested in the material world, or we start feeling overwhelmed by concepts we mastered as a child (e.g., colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc.), then the mind might need a break. In short, our feelings can warn us if we’re starting to think about life more than really living it. If your feelings are telling you that you’re out of balance, it might be time to log off, turn off the T.V., put down the books, and go outside and LIVE! After all, Zen Masters tell us that our answers and our joy lie in living, not thinking too much about living:

• "Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes." - Alan Wattsrn
• "Don't seek, don't search, don't ask, don't knock, don't demand - relax. If you relax, it comes. If you relax, it is there. If you relax, you start vibrating with it." - Oshorn
• "Sit quietly doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself." - Zen Wisdomrn
• "This is the Zen approach: nothing is there to be done. There is nothing to do. One has just to be. Have a rest and be ordinary and be natural." - Oshorn
• “If you are in a state of no mind, even though something new might come up, you are not bothered by it. So there is no problem when it comes to adapting to conditions.” - Hyunoon Sunim

May you listen to your feelings today and enjoy balance in all areas of your life! To read other motivational and inspirational thoughts throughout the day, follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/DrDebBrown