The Romance of a Beginner's Mind
The Romance of a Beginner’s Mind
Recently, I watched a video on how to find dates. One of the key messages in this video was your outlook on life/dating, is what will be looking back at you. The more romance you are, the more romance you will get in return. The facilitator of these dating videos and workshops also spoke about how he looks at life in a romantic way. One of the reasons he has this loving outlook is he is always travelling, and so each place he is visiting is new and exciting. This had me wonder how I could bring more romance into my life, even if I wasn’t travelling or if I didn’t have a date/boyfriend? Then, I remembered one of the most important lessons of being mindful. Love and kindness towards oneself is important, as well as viewing life with a beginner’s mind.
A beginner’s mind refers to having an attitude of excitement, openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceived notions. This can also be thought of as a child’s mind. Teaching children often reminds me of this natural innocence and desire to learn new things. Most of the time, I try to embrace these qualities as well. I remember one day after work, I was heading to the parking lot and a student ran up to me and asked: “what are we going to do tomorrow in class?” I replied: tomorrow!?!!” I stopped and thought for a minute and said: “tomorrow, you will know what we are going to do tomorrow.” The student laughed and said: “you are just like my dog. You are just doing whatever happens in the very moment.” I smiled and took her response as a compliment. Dogs are the true lovers of life, leaving the past and present and embracing each second with enthusiasm. Planning is important and needed, but daily, it’s also important to just be in the given moment and view things with a fresh look.
This fresh look can often be found through travelling. When we travel, we embrace everything we see, smell, hear, taste touch, as if we are encountering everything for the very first time, because most of the time, it is for the very first time. Here we follow our curiosity, we abandon restrictions, mostly restrictions we put on ourselves, and we play.
When in another town, even seeing construction, brings forth wonder and excitement. I wonder what they will create here? Look at how these people are working here. I wonder what their lives are like? This will probably be something really neat when it’s finished? Look at how they all work together as a team.
I know when I see construction on my way to work, I am not thinking with a beginner’s mind. Instead I think things such as the following: 50 KM zone, last week it was 60, come on people make up your mind! Am I going to be late for work? Look at all the dust. Geez, can these people in front of me hurry up. It’s all about expectations and getting somewhere else and it’s all about taking myself out of the moment.
A beginner’s mind has possibilities and it has a sense of romance, the feeling that anything can happen, and anything CAN happen! Let us embrace that play, let us embrace that romance, let us embrace life again, with joy through a beginner’s view.
I invite you in these next 30 days to be exactly where you are at any given moment, and notice the judgments you may place on yourself. Loving and kindness towards yourself is the first step in the way through and a beginner’s mind is the second step.
Get Your Joy On: Challenge 2 April 1 -7, 2018
Your Challenge this week of April 1 to April 7 is to choose to view life through a beginner’s mind and mindfully through romantic eyes notice something new each day.
View life as if you were someone travelling or on a vacation. Embracing everything you see as if seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting and touching it all for the very first time. View life through the eyes of a romantic, the eyes of love. Find curiosity and play in the areas you never thought possible. The more loving vibes you send out, the more loving vibes will surround you.
Happy Joying XO ~ Love Cynth