Riding the Waves

Progress is not linear.

We can’t see the trend while we’re still playing it out.
We have to take it as it comes, in waves of up and down.
We get in a muddle by trying to multitask - to be doing and processing at once.
If doing is climbing up the wave then processing is riding down after the crest.

In the moment of doing, it’s almost impossible to know whether we’re cresting or heading for a trough. That’s only possible when in hindsight, with some space and reflection - after processing.

The aim is to live in a more harmonious way with the world’s happenings. When the nervous system and conscious mind are working optimally, it feels like we’re riding the waves rather than fighting them. We position ourselves favourably, to go along with what’s already happening, creating ease and momentum.

It’s all in the timing. We get the timing right by following our intuition - provided the intuition comes from a place of calm, loving presence and health.

So the practice is in cultivating this inner situation to make the best of the outer situation. Observing our thought and behaviour patterns - making note of which ones lead us closer to that balanced, effective state.

Checking in twice a day and asking ourselves whether we’re doing or processing is a start. Perhaps it’s in the morning (when the day is riding towards the crest) and in the evening (when the day is moving away from the crest). Then as we notice more, we time our doing and processing with the world’s little waves as well as the bigger ones.

We match the internal with the external for a smoother ride through life. We catch on more quickly and learn to go with it, even when the waves are choppy and unpredictable.