I start this new season by pausing to look with new eyes…
Life is complex and it is not possible to see and know all.
It can be equally overwhelming to try and look everywhere as it can be when the focus becomes too small or stuck in a limited visual field.
What can we take from nature to help us?
When I get stuck, I try to get outside and turn my focus to what is around me. A bird of prey will scan broadly as it flies – and when it spots something it will hover in order to find and hold clear focus. If nothing comes of it, the bird simply moves on to look elsewhere. Energy is used sparingly and with purpose.
When I am struggling to be mindful due to too many conflicting thoughts or ideas – I sometimes take my camera out with me (and NOT my phone). It helps to set a scavenger hunt of sorts – perhaps looking for textures, or colours or shapes.
On this occasion I chose my focus question to be, “What is moving?”.
I actually took very few photos – but among them I did catch this Kestrel hovering: I am delighted with it. The longer standing benefit, however was that I thought only about what was around me for that hour outside. I practised being in that moment. Sparing my emotional energy and replenishing my attention span.
I carried a new energy into the rest of my week…
Next time I will be talking about “sense of self” – how professional “mask wearing” can confine – and even gradually hide our true sense of self, and how getting out into nature can help.
