Mindful Precision and Flow

A few years ago, meditation was my keystone habit and morning focus. I saw this practice as a way to practice mindful, contemplative prayer. We are all familiar with the flood of thoughts that challenge our attempts to focus, pray, and live mindfully. Thomas Keating suggests we imagine our thoughts like boats on a river. The river is the source of our thoughts, the never-ending wellspring. When we let go and surrender our thoughts, we are better able to focus on the source. He called this spiritual attentiveness. I think of it as finding peace in the chaos of life. The more we appreciate the river, the more easily the boats can drift away, giving us those moments of peace and presence. 

In my life, I strive to be “process-focused” as opposed to “outcome-focused.” I love setting and reaching goals, but it is the striving and reaching that keeps me moving forward with hope and discipline. In any discipline, practitioners need a balance of precision and flow. Being able to care for the tiny details (precision) while keeping in mind the rhythm (flow) that develops over time. I think of master athletes who have both precision and flow. This mysterious talent is the result of focused practice over time. Their outcomes are a result of their process. Experts have outcome goals the guides their direction, but they are committed to the process and the daily practices. It does us well to remember, the outcome is a nice place to visit, but home is where we live, in the process. 

Last year, I read the Dalai Lama’s book, An Open Heart: practicing compassion in everyday living. He suggests we practice empathy and compassion. Every day. That we need to hold to Jesus’s teaching that we must truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We must recognize our neighbors and care deeply. When we put ourselves in the shoes of “others” we realize there is no “them.” There is only “us.” Our neighbors and ourselves.  

Today, may I remember my neighbors. May I find the balance. May I notice the river. And may I live this day well. With mindful precision, flow, empathy, and compassion.