Like Water In the Palm of Your Hand

I thought, “hold it like you would hold water in the palm of your hand" was a Chinese proverb.  But, the holder of all sorts of virtual info, Google cannot verify this.

Holding water in the palm of your hand is a good metaphor for living.  Whatever way we contort our hand, eventually the water drips out.  The speed of the drip depends upon the shape of our hand, the tension in our muscles, and so many other factors.  When we hold the water, and our life unfolding, with the four nons our life becomes a never-ending cascade of possibilities unfolding.

Nonattachment = nothing is ever permanent.  Eventually the water runs out of my cupped palm.  Like an objective observer, I do not cling to what is occurring.  I notice what is smoothly working, what needs to be tweaked, and what needs to be let go.  I know that with combining calm with objective awareness manifests life’s abundance.

Non-judgment = we knowingly and unknowingly judge in every minute of every day.  Watching the water slide out of our palm, we gently reframe any judgments we have about the ability of the water to remain and our capability of harnessing the water.  Non-judgment asks that we notice those judgmental distractions but do not react from them.

Non-defensiveness = we make no excuses for water running out (blaming it our arthritis, the cramp in our hand, the coldness of the water) We treat ever situation as “life as it is.” We learn from the unfolding.

Non-violent = means no outward display of violence in our thoughts and words.  It cautions us to listen to the negativity in our thoughts.  When we notice the violence we gently reframe it into a different way.  This new way invites the beauty of abundance into our life.

Practicing the four nons is an ongoing challenge.  At times we are able to be nonattached, without acting on judgments, not defending, and with minimal violence.  At other times, our connection to the four nons explodes in a fury.  This isn’t a competition to get the practice of the four nons “right” all the time.  The four nons encourage us to be the best we can be in the moment.

Discovering your best in the moment,

Vanessa

www.intentandaction.com