Curiosity
Writtn by Tony Amberg and Buki Ogunseitan, Chaplan Resident
"This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before." -- Maya Angelou
It's a New Year. It's a time of looking back, and for looking forward. What have we been? What do we want to be? My wise chaplain colleague notes that often we wait for a significant inflection point (like the New Year) to think about starting new ventures or making changes in our life. Yet every day, indeed every hour is a point where we can reflect and make a change. We don't have to wait for some predetermined marker.
This year of disruption has begged us to consider our lives, our families, our communities. It has asked us to really consider what is important, and what is our authentic self in the crisis. Yet, according to a recent op-ed in Time Magazine (featuring NM Psychiatry Professor Dr. Jacqueline Gollan) the magnitude of the crisis, the disruption and the fear can drive us to jump too hard or too fast. Our strong feelings can drive a decision that may ultimately not be a good one.
How to handle the opportunity of existential (or mundane) changes in this unprecedented time? How to surf the dynamic tension of change or no change?
Consider the wonderful property of our brains called Curiosity. My reading of meditation texts suggests that the point of meditation is not to stop the mind, nor halt our strong emotions -- but to allow us to step back from them and become curious. Can I re-approach the familiar as though I have not seen it before? My history and pre-conceived ideas may be valuable information -- or a hindrance to creativity.
Before I become engulfed, can I ask what a particular emotional response is about? What is this thought narrative? Do I really agree with it? Is it merited for the situation? Do I need it?
Then we can postulate other possibilities. We get to try them out. The change does not have to be permanent. We can take our ideas for a "test drive." We are gathering the information about whether of our choices we are moving down the right path.
It's a New Year full of wonderful possibilities. It's a universe of many choices. Every day can be New Year's Day -- a chance for evaluation and action. It's a wonderful day. And none of us have seen this one before.
Happy 2021!