Some days even the most basic things seem overly complicated in my mind and something as simple as attempting to ‘breathe mindfully’ during morning meditation feels unnatural and forced. However I’ve realised there is one thing that I can count on to calm me and bring me back to myself: taking photos of details.
The biggest effort is to head out the door with my camera. Once that is done I let myself be guided by my eyes around the streets near my house or in one of the nearby parks. Looking closely at my surroundings (mainly plants, I admit;) ) I feel this curiousity and a desire to see as if for the first time, and my breathing steadies and deepens naturally as I snap the shots.
Often such an outing results in a few dozen blurry, uninteresting pictures which I can delete again as soon as I get home. Other times in a batch of pictures there are a few that make my heart sing, perfectly imperfect shots of unexpected details I’d never previously noticed or bright flowers and leaves that brighten a grey afternoon.
But I’ve realised that the photos themselves are not the point. I’m learning to trust in the process. It is not about the pictures I take but about getting out of the house to focus on something I deeply love to do, remembering how it feels like to be in flow regardless of the outcome. It is my body’s way of sending me hopeful messages that it still knows how to feel at ease when I am doing what is in line with my heart’s wishes. Now, how to apply this wisdom to other realms of my life??
I think you’ve already solved your final question…”focus on something I deeply love to do, remembering how it feels like to be in flow.” Daydream and recall the feelings!
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Hahaha! You’re right:-) Daydreaming and tapping into those feelings is definitely a good indicator of being in flow. Thanks:-)
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Beautiful image and related thoughts. 😊
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Thanks a lot! I really enjoyed your photos of Tokyo. I am reading a book about Japan, so I’ll have your images and lights as a backdrop for the story:-)
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Thank you. I am at the airport in Osaka heading home after a wonderful time in Japan. 😊🇯🇵
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Oh, nice photo.
great post.
your photos say a great deal about you.
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Thanks a lot!
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