A practical tool for more bliss in your life! The art of accepting what is.

RIDE THE TIDE

Thoughts about life from my stand up paddle board…

You ever stop to consider that what is, simply IS and maybe most of our suffering in life comes from NOT accepting what is just as it is? Maybe most of our suffering comes from resisting what is.

When you try to paddle against the tide, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride. It’s possible and it’s great exercise, great for gaining strength and practicing endurance. But it’s not efficient and takes a lot more energy than riding the tide.

Maybe our resistance to what is could be our main source of suffering in life. Maybe as we flow with life and let go of things we can’t control, we’ll experience bliss in our lives more often.

Yes, of course there are instances where we can and ought to make change, make waves and build strength paddling against the tide. There ARE times to fight for it even if it feels out of your control.

But for the most part, maybe it’s time to consider letting go a little bit. Riding the tide of life. Accepting what is instead of resisting it. Especially when it’s something we don’t have control over anyway.

Don’t like the way someone’s acting or the things they said? You can’t change anyone but yourself, so why waste energy going over and over it in your head?

Don’t like the weather? Your misery isn’t going to offend the clouds, so how about you put on the right clothes and stop complaining.

Your flight is delayed and you’re stuck in an airport? Find a way to enjoy yourself because the other option is to suffer over something you can’t change.

Maybe you’re experiencing something extremely difficult, like death or serious illness or injury. STILL in those instances where it feels impossible to accept this or “ride the tide,” can we resist it just a little bit less? If we put less energy into resistance and redirect that energy into loving, grieving, healing, THEN we invite acceptance. We make a bit more space for the possibility of bliss. Maybe not right now, but we’re paving the way.

You wanna resist what is and cause more suffering for yourself by continually desiring to change something that is out of your control?

Or you wanna let go a little bit, relax, and ride the tide of what is… because you may as well have some fun, find some joy, or at least not waste your precious life resisting something you can’t change.

Suffering or acceptance? Suffering or surrender? Your choice.

And when it comes to birth, surrendering to what is and riding the tide of unpredictability are KEY to a blissful experience. We advocate for what we want, yes. But whenever things are out of our control, let us practice this deep surrender to the present moment.

“OK, great.” You might be thinking… “But HOW?”

The how is simpler than you may think. It’s all in the mind. It’s all about your thoughts.

Step one is to catch yourself resisting what is. Can you begin to notice when you’re resisting against the present moment? When you’re frustrated or cranky about something and wish it would change?

Step two is once you catch yourself, reframe that thought. Instead of, “Wow, this person canceled on me last minute, that sucks.” Can we turn the thought into, “Wow, this is a lesson for me to be better about confirming my appointments in advance. Maybe I can use this unexpected time to myself as a way to check in with myself, care for myself, and ask myself what I need in this moment.” BOOM… that bummer just became a gift, a lesson.

Step three is once you notice the resistance and reframe the thought, notice how you feel about the reframe. You feel better, don’t you? You feel a little lighter, right?

When you shift your attitude around a problem, real or perceived, you’re able to free up some energy to be used elsewhere. What’s the point of wasting energy being upset about something you can’t control? When you notice that this process uplifts you, you’ll be more likely to keep practicing it.

Step four is REPEAT. Do this again and again whenever you’re facing a challenge. If you can change the way you see the present moment (AKA the way you think about it) you’ll change the way you feel about it too.

I don’t know about you, but I choose more bliss over suffering. I choose surrender. Acceptance of what is. And whenever I catch myself choosing to suffer, I follow the reframe steps. Again and again. Hope this helps you!