While looking at myself in the mirror this morning, I was wondering, how is it ever possible for me to be detached and yet feel happy. And later in the day I got my answer in two powerful ways:
My wife came back from her yoga session, and Fae, our little miracle puppy, dashed towards her like a long lost friend who was meeting her after ages! Tail wagging, licking and soft biting, and playing with her like there is no tomorrow!
I noticed that she does the exact same thing every day when my wife comes back from yoga and her walk, every day when our daughters come back from school, and everyday when I get back from my yoga or any other activity too. She has the same love, joy and excitement each time we come back home from outside! She does not complain for not getting an extra treat, or everyone being too busy to play "fetch" with her the previous evening. She is always in the moment, always fresh. Its as if she knows, life is only NOW!
The other incident took place later in the day in one of my coaching conversations with a client. We were in a deep conversation totally in a state of Flow - when something prompted me to pick up this Alan Watts book titled Become What You Are, and start reading aloud:
It has been said that the highest wisdom lies in detachment, or, in the words of Chuang-tzu: "The perfect man employs his mind as a mirror; it grasps nothing; it refuses nothing; it receives, but does not keep." Detachment means to have neither regrets for the past, nor fears for the future; to let life take its course without attempting to interfere with its movement and change, neither trying to prolong the stay of things pleasant, nor to hasten the departure of things unpleasant. In short, it is to be detached from both past and future, and to live in the eternal Now.
Both Fae and Alan Watts brought the message home to me: When we live in the Now, we are detached and we are helplessly blissful!
Photos: Fae in the Balcony (or rather Fae in the Now!),
Extract from "Become What You Are" by Alan Watts
Are you interested to know How Detached You are? Then take this simple assessment to find out! https://forms.gle/1z3ZoF1zriS4EeHd8
The Author, Anuj Chadha, is Founder of Three Circles - Coaching to create the Life that you love! At Three Circles, we come with a deep understanding of what it takes to navigate the challenges that life throws at us. We partner with our clients, listen to their life aspirations, and support them to break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back. Life is too precious to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled. Give us the opportunity to partner with you as you re-imagine and re-create the Life that you Love!
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