Day 1 ๐
Tomorrow we will embark upon a significant journey together โ a year of daily practice. Itโs a privilege to share this journey with you, and I thank you for your commitment. Iโm excited! ๐๐พ
I love the one year timeframe (the scale of โyearsโ in general is the right framing for mindfulness practice). The canvas is finally getting big enough! This is the scale where the practice will have an effect and you'll notice your mind changing/improving. (From a full-scale practice perspective (7 years), Year 1 is where you build up the speed/strength of mind needed to break free of your mindโs gravity well.)
A year also means that we can let go of the idea of outcomes and get into the regular, daily rhythm of the practice and life, and find some flow. There is an old saying that before enlightenment you have to โchop wood and carry waterโ, and then *boom* youโre enlightenedโฆand then itโs all about โchop wood and carry waterโ again.๐
Whatโs important is *how* we show up to chop our wood and carry our water. We are going to show up knowing and loving what is. Every day this will involve:
1. Building your awareness โ knowing yourself and the world better
2. Building your acceptance โ loving yourself and the world better
Weโre going to show up intentionally, in every aspect of our minds:
I will be aware like thisโฆ
I will think like thisโฆ
I will be emotional like thisโฆ
I will be physical like thisโฆ
As you build the capacity to stay mindful โ to stay in a knowing and loving perspective โ you will:
Heal your suffering โ deal with stress and whatever feels โwrongโ in your life
Strengthen your mind โ engage with the world in a richer and more satisfying way
Support the people around you, and make the world a better place
___________________
Year 1 Overview
Your mind has 7-levels (hence the full 7-year practice, with one year at each level). Our first 7 months will involve one month at each level of your mind. For the final 5 months weโll focus on Awareness in a few different ways.
Month 1: Awareness
Month 2: Thinking
Month 3: Emotions
Month 4: Body
Month 5: Living
Month 6: Being
Month 7: Peace
Month 8: Awareness
Month 9: Awareness
Month 10: Awareness
Month 11: Awareness
Month 12: Awareness