Queen Lolo

"Look Ma, No Hands!"

"When people try to write stories, they tend to drag the stories behind them. They think the story and question it and try to arrange it into something understandable, which is no fun at all! It makes a person feel exhausted and cranky. The best way to write is to let the image pull you. You should be water-skiing behind it, not dragging it like a barge. Writing should take you for a ride." - Lynda Barry, writer and cartoonist

Lynda Barry's advice on writing struck me as refreshingly practical. And not just in terms of crafting articles or fiction. But also in terms of how we orchestrate our lives.

Because stories aren't just about putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Every moment, we're writing stories in our heads.... stories about our relationships, our moments, our bodies, our meals, our money, our realities.

What if we apply Lynda's writing advice to these types of stories too?

What if instead of questioning and arranging everything into a preconceived, understandable story, we let go of a desired outcome and instead let the story pull us along?

I'm not suggesting being passive or playing the victim. Not at all. I'm talking about allowing the wisdom of your heart to energetically effect the unfolding of your life.

Give it a try. Close your eyes, and shift your attention to the area of your heart while breathing slowly and deeply. Activate and sustain a genuine feeling of appreciation or care for someone or something in your life. Send these feelings of care toward yourself and others.

Simple... yet one of the most powerful practices I've ever done.

I learned this "Heart Lock-In Technique" it from a radiant woman named Sheva Carr in Los Angeles. The technique will probably ring a bell if you're familiar with the Buddhist practice of "Loving Kindness" or Metta. But Sheva bases her practice and work on the teachings and clinical research from the HeartMath Institute, and I must say this little exercise has been generating some mighty powerful results in my life, far beyond the physiological.

Since practicing this on a daily basis, I’ve noticed a calming of the incessant thinking, questioning, and arranging that usually keeps my monkey mind running in the past and tripping into the future. By connecting with my heart several times a day, I'm better able to hang out in the present moment without the stories, without the drama, without the need for so much knowing.

This clears the space for me to more deeply appreciate the "ordinary miracles" of everyday existence... like the breathtaking flower I found while walking with a wonderful new friend after brunch this morning... or the icy cold smoothie my daughter dripped off a spoon into my mouth while we perused the aisles of Target tonight... or the warm bubble bath and pile of new books that await me upstairs once I finish this blog.

The more I live in my heart (and believe me, it’s not an easy practice, and I only sustain it for mere seconds at a time!)... the more I appreciate these simple blessings. The more I appreciate, the happier I become. And it’s this state of happiness that generates more of the same, allowing life to unfold in surprisingly magical ways, without stress or turmoil or dragging barges behind me.

It's a lot more fun... like waterskiing through life. The trick is to experience it from my heart, breathe deep, and LET GO!

"WHEEEEEE!"

Posted by CopyKatz at March 24, 2008 08:44 AM