I was able to get a walk in today, in between rain showers. As I walked under one of my favorite trees, a big gust of wind shook the leaves. Raindrops fell as if a cloud had suddenly broken loose, and for a moment, I thought it was raining. When I came out from under the large tree, I discovered it actually wasn’t raining and realized what had happened.
Under the tree, I didn’t have another explanation for the raindrops. It seemed real to me and I would’ve told you it was raining. On the other side of it, I could see the bigger picture.
Whatever we’re going through right now may seem as real as the story we make up about it, because we’re surrounded by it from every angle. That’s especially true if we can’t see any indication that it could be anything other than what it presently looks like.
But what if, like the temporary illusion of rain that I experienced today, the circumstances you may be facing are also not truly exactly what they seem? What if things are actually better than they appear to be in this moment? What if today's obstacles are nothing but a temporary challenge that will soon make sense? Maybe you just need to keep going for now and get to the other side where a bigger perspective will reveal what’s really going on?
Curiosity is a beautiful thing. A friend of mine whom I admire and respect told me several weeks ago that she has decided she knows nothing. She is suspending all opinions and willing to embrace curiosity on a daily basis.
How do we know when what seems real, isn’t really real? We accept that we don't know everything and remain curious until more is revealed.
Life can be beautifully simple if we adopt an attitude of curiosity and humility. Coming from an analytic, this is definitely a challenge. But I think for today I will also try not knowing anything. I will not assume that I know why people do what they do, or say what they say, or assume something is true when it may just be an illusion.
Openly curious, I am ready to receive the gifts of the day. I hope you are too.
