October 9, 2010
It's been quite a week. A week in which being in the present moment was the only way to get through it. I'm not saying that it was a terrible week; it was kind of like riding a roller coaster.
The highs were exhilarating. My daughter was home visiting for a week, my sister-in-law and niece also were in town, and Fall blew into Santa Fe bringing cool mornings, crystal clear blue skies and the beautiful patchwork quilt of colors that the aspens bring to the Sangre de Cristos this time of year. We were all riding high with our hands thrust into the air. But then we headed down into the depths as my father-in-law became ill and was admitted to the hospital and my son and daughter-in-law's cat had to be put to sleep due to a sudden and unexpected diagnosis of cancer.
Wednesday, the day my father-in-law was admitted to the hospital and my son found out that his cat had cancer, was the day of the Law of Least Effort in Deepak Chopra's book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. There are 3 components to the Law of Least Effort; Acceptance, Responsibility and Defenselessness.
By practicing Acceptance you commit to knowing that "...this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be."
Having accepted things as they are, you take Responsibility for your situation and for the events you see as problems. This means "not blaming anyone or anything" for your situation (including yourself) and you accept "that every problem is an opportunity in disguise.
And finally, you "remain established in Defenselessness. You give up the need to defend your point of view. You remain "open to all points of view and not rigidly attached to any one of them."
The Law of Least Effort helped me stay in the present moment this week, not blame others for what I perceived as problems and kept me from forcing my point of view on others. This simple practice guided me through this "roller coaster" week and I find myself less stressed and better able to support my husband and son during this trying time.
Being present, I find, takes diligence and constant practice. It is a practice, however, that can bring balance into your life and the lives of those that you touch. Give it a try.
Safe travels,
Karen
