Mindfulness and Busyness. Can they co-exist?

One of the challenges we all have in life is how to fit it all in. At the moment, I am guilty of burning the candle at both ends. There is so much I am enthused about and yet how do I find time for it all? Is it better to focus on some things and complete them as well I can? Or is it OK to spread myself more thinly and accept that from time to time, even though I am keeping the plates spinning, one or two may come tumbling to the ground. Mindfulness can be so helpful when navigating little and not so little issues such as this.

For example, at the moment I have a number of books on the go. The first is a book on Person Centred Counselling in the Sage skills series. Although I'm an integrative counsellor and use Transactional Analysis, Gestalt and CBT with my clients, I let my clients set the direction of our work together. So reading this book has been a confirmation of my Person Centred counselling instincts.. It's absolutely brilliant, reminding me of how Person Centred counselling is an approach that works and stands entirely on it's own without the need for the client to be told what to do. It's all about the client's process, which the relationship with the person centred counsellor allows to unfold towards healing. In some ways integrative counselling is like the icing on the cake.

The other book I wanted to mention, I picked off the shelf a couple of nights back when I wanted something that was spiritually inspiring. It's a book about meditation and mindfulness I bought a few years ago by a Buddhist teacher called Sylvia Boorstein. It's called 'Happiness is an inside job'. It's a great title. I originally came across her when listening to the 10 Percent Happier Podcast I think or it may have been a few years ago when I subscribed to a monthly meditation magazine and she had written an article. She is quite elderly now but extremely wise.

As is often the case with Mindfulness books, the first few pages are really engaging. She explains that even though she has been meditating and leading Mindfulness retreats for decades, she is not tranquil and peaceful all the time. However, even though she remains passionate and capable of strong emotions, she has noticed that if she remains clear about what is arising in her mind, then she does not suffer, even when she feels a powerful emotion like anger.

In Buddhism, suffering is a big subject; it's what the Buddha's teachings set out to alleviate. The Buddha shared the four Noble Truths with his first students when he decided to become a teacher, the first of which translates as something like 'Life is difficult' or 'Life is unsatisfactory'. The second Noble truth says that the cause of suffering is our inability to accept things are they are. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Which brings me back to my dilemma about whether to read this or read that and how to fit it all in. By seeing clearly I can know that there are two things going on. First, the initial problem of having too many interests and not enough time. Second, I can also see that I can add a second layer of suffering to this by worrying about not being able to fit everything in.

So as is always the case, there is an opportunity for healing here. Just by seeing clearly what is happening in my mind, a sense of acceptance can arise. If I can see this situation as it is, without adding analysis, criticism and judgement, then space can open around the issue, and I will not hold onto it so tightly.

Using Mindfulness, I can be aware in the present moment of my response and choose not to make it an issue for myself. I can simply accept things as they are and not waste energy wishing they were different. I am really busy and that's OK. I am really enthused with so much to learn. And that's OK too. Breathe. Enjoy the moment.......

Now back to Sylivia Boorstein and chapter one - 'Equanimity, wisdom and kindness.'