One of the only things we’re guaranteed is impermanence. We’re guaranteed that nothing will ever be the same, remain as it is and as we’d like it to be.
Many people fear the idea of this. I love it. I love that we can’t rely on anything to remain the same because it means I cannot be fixed in one spot forever thinking that I can rest on the laurels of permanence.
According to people far smarter and studious than I, this is a growth mindset. I am prepared to change and go with the flow of circumstances as they arise.
In many ways, this way of thinking makes my life a heck of a lot easier because I’m not battling myself or the world when it changes.
I know a lot of people who hate change. They fight it. It is both an internal and external fight of wills against unknown entities they feel control them. This external locus of control dominates how they see the world and makes them feel powerless.
Over the last few days I’ve been working each day on this jigsaw puzzle. I don’t think I’ve done a jigsaw puzzle in my adult life, let alone mad enough to do a 1000-piece one.
What I loved about the experience of it was the methodical approach to how the puzzle changed as I added new pieces. It was a practice in mindfulness that aided in distracting me — and keeping me away from sharp implemenents — in the last few bloody hot days of this pregnancy but it was more than that.
It was an experience of expanding my mind by slowing it down. I have been able to think, plan and consider what I and my family need in 2022 because I’ve taken the time to stop.
I wouldn’t have had this experience with a fixed mindset because I wouldn’t have the ability to see the possibilities beyond the activity of completing a puzzle.
To know if you have a fixed mindset, ask yourself how to respond to spontaneous events – do you go with the flow or does it send you into a tailspin?
You don’t need to live that way.
You can work on your emotional intelligence and expand your mind to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.
Trust me, life sure is more enjoyable and easier this way.
Going with the flow of impermanence also meant that it was easy for me break up and box the puzzle again once it was done. Not being fixated on what’s done enables me to easily and effortlessly learn and move on to something new.
Sure goes a long way to making life interesting when you’re not stuck in a keep-it-this-way lifestyle.
