This is a nice bit of Tao reflection… especially for those of us who are very good at doing, but not at stopping.
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
Lao Tsu
The trick, of course, is to know when your bowl is comfortably full, to know when you’ve done enough work.
I think you only know that once you step back quietly. In actuality, work is never “done”. There is more we could always do. But we need to realise backing off, releasing control, letting things be for a bit is as essential to creating as doing is.
This is a relief. Honestly.
What can we all do to step back? A walk around the block? Some care of the soul? Some gentle trusting that enough is done? Maybe just do less and see what happens?
I’ve found a great way to naturally step back is to give my toddler some attention – a hug, some playtime etc.
I’m lucky enough to work from home, but I am also a full time mother, and that’s my priority. My son wants me in the here and now – he can’t wait for me to check a job over again, to redo some work, to see if an email’s come in, to sit on the computer.
Yes, it’s also a time management thing, but prioritising his needs keeps me focused on doing what I have to do for work, thoroughly and completely, and then I can let it go and walk away from the computer, to spend time with him.
Sometimes it’s worth being ‘forced’ to step back!
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Sometimes I think walking is the best meditation in the world. I find it really reflective at times when I need it the most.
I try and walk 30 mins everyday, more for the mental aspect than the physical. Also not working Sunday’s has really helped. I still might be quite active, like ‘fixin things’ around the house but that is complete relaxtion for me.
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Stepping back is an important part of my writing. Sleep on it! Stop fiddling with it and give it time to rest and come back to it fresh. Sometimes I can get so inside the work that hours flow past and if me bladder didn’t signal how much time had passed I’m not sure I’d ever reenter the world.
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This is something I have to learn to deal with. Most of the time I work, work, and work…I need to have some time off to enjoy the beauty and proportion of life.
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I think that’s the best thing about having Hashimotos… after years of pushing and pushing and pushing your unrealistic expectations on yourself, comes the time when you start to master the art of doing sweet FA. Because you can. Because its therapeutic. Because it feels awesome to take a break and smell the roses or whatever you like to do when you take a break.
I am now GREAT at this. Too great perhaps, that I sometimes get carried away with the fun stuff and get no work done. I read blogs that make me happy. I write haikus about zombies. I drink green tea and stare at the rain. I walk around our building, which has an atrium on the first floor, and marvel at having a bird’s eye view of the trees. I email pictures of baby monkeys doing silly stuff to my friends who might be having a bad day, I google search for steampunk/ lowbrow artists I might not have seen before, I do yoga behind my desk, the list goes on!!
I absolutely LOVE Zen because it teaches that everything you need is within you, not without. As someone who never caught the appeal of grave racing just to have the latest and greatest material possessions, the idea that we can be perfectly content here and now with what we’ve got amuses me no end.
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Thank you Sarah – I needed to hear this today. A great reminder.
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Thanks Sarah, love this poem.
Whist I have still been checking in to read your blog, I haven’t posted for a while.
I have been a little flat about a long winded decision to chase financial security rather than pursue a dream..and yes my heart is still clenched.
It was a difficult decision that was made just prior to your Decision-Making Post…reading that was like looking directly into a mirror in the midday sun! I am terrible at making decisions…option a, b, c , d …a1, a2…I agree with my sister’s proclamation…I really do need remedial class for this one!!
I do have a push myself approach; I think I may be somewhat worried that if I do stop the momentum will push me over and I won’t be able to fire back up!
I also relate to being a prisoner of other’s approval…I have unfortunately experienced this painful dynamic. Stepping back is difficult to do when you are a proud, tough person…instead I often harden my exterior which is certainly not aligned with attaining serenity.
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This makes me think of ‘The Artists Way’ a course in creative recovery by Julia Cameron, I’ve been working with this alot since doing the course..it’s not easy but it’s so important!
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Sarah, any chance you could write a post to inspire and encourage your more sloth-like readers to put down the cup of tea, stop staring out the window and get up and do something?
I am an expert at relaxing, being still and taking the gentle approach, so much so that I seem to have entered a state of inertia! I think I need a good shake- and maybe a cattle prod…
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Thank you very much. As always, very insightful.
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I understand those getting lost in fun. I haven’t have a good read of the recent ‘scanners’ articles. But I’d hope / expect somewhere purpose and goal-setting have to be discussed.
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Thank you for this. I am really tired today, but I still have some work to do. I just wanted to read one more post on my rss and it was yours: I decided to rest. My today’s bowl is full.
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Can I just say how awfully pleased I am that you are now in Facebook (at least I just learned about it today). With so many social networks, FB is the one place I prefer to follow my favourites. Can’t wait for your book, Sarah. I am sure fans like me will love it!
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what sage advice. today is my one day off in a two+ week span of long days at work. i was feeling a little guilty for moving at the pace of an exhausted snail. but you’re right. all i want to do today is a little bit of nothing. perhaps there really isn’t much wrong with that. my bowl is full enough!
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Thankyou so much. This is so so true! It’s hard to know when ‘enough is enough’ and often we push ourselves too hard and don’t take enough time to enjoy and spend time doing the important things. This is a great thing to remember! x
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