Everything We Need

We have everything we need to make the present moment the happiest in our life, even if we have a cold or a headache. We don't have to wait until we get over our cold to be happy. Having a cold is part of life. I am happy in the present moment. I do not ask for anything else.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Buddhist Monk

 

I like this. Kind of follows on nicely from last nights meandering ponderings as well. 

I don't feel particularly great today, but it's true that we don't have to wait.

There will always be something.

Something we have to get over, do, achieve...

It's constantly putting conditions on our happiness and it will never lead to happiness.

It also reminds me that I have to quit with my 'I'll do it when...' thinking. I get nothing done.

"I'll paint a picture when I've bought some canvasses" (What's wrong with paper?)

"I'll paint when I have an easel, so it's better for my back and neck" (Like that's ever bothered me with anything else before)

"There's no point in trying X, Y, Z, B, M, Q, until I have A, D, T, W, F."

"There's no point trying, because it won't be how I want it to be, anyway".

The latter is my biggest stumbling block I think. Fear of "failure" - but it's only failure if I define it as failure. I've had perfectionism and high-achieving banged into me all my life, it's hard to break free. I must try and break free though, as it's stifling. I fear things won't be as I plan them to be, and so somewhere along the line I find it makes most sense not to bother. 

I am going to get the book 'The Artists Way' and make an effort to commit to it.

Or could that just be roughly translated as 'when I have the book, then I will do something about it...' ?