The Art of Allowing.

The Art of Allowing

Let’s try something. Take a seat, or stand up, whichever you prefer. Notice your jaw. Are you clenching? How about your hands? What are they doing? 

Go ahead and contract the muscles in your face, the jaw and your brow in particular. Tighten them. Make a fist, too, and raise that hand to shoulder height. Heck, let’s shrug that same shoulder as well.

Got it? Hold it. Take your time to notice how it feels.

When you’re ready, to the best of your ability, let go. Gently drop the shoulder, and lower the arm. Soften your hand. Relax your face. Take a deep breath, ideally through your nose.

Do you feel any difference? Which approach, if you will, do you prefer? More importantly, which one is more familiar to you?

The fact of the matter is, on some level, it is extremely likely that we unintentionally and unnecessarily habitually tighten some part of our body. Check your abdomen, aka your solar plexus. Is that area engaged right now? Does it have to be? And your shoulders, are you pulling them back? If so, why? What’s that for?

What is possible if you soften a bit? What is possible if you simply do less? If you do not have to pull your shoulders back, why would you? What’s the worst that could happen?

What if we go deeper, so to speak, to your thoughts and to beliefs? What do you fundamentally think about yourself? About life in general? Or about what’s happening around you, in the world?

Do you specifically notice any thoughts, or beliefs, or ideas which in some way suggest that there could be an ending ? In other words, do you notice any ideas which give you the impression that there could be some sort of finality to any situation or to any scenario? A completion, if you will?

To be clear, this has nothing to do with death; this self inquiry is completely related to the context of being alive. In real life, can anything ever truly be compete? Done. Never needing attention again. Yes, or no? 

Consider these fairly simple—if not asinine—examples: “I am weak.” “I am strong.” “I am incapable.” 

“This is over.” “We fixed it!” “They are wrong.” “You saved me.”

“I am damaged.”

Or, “I am healed.”

While alive, in a permanent sense, is any of this true?

What if we go as broad as possible? How much control do have over where a plant will grow? Or for how long? Or how well, especially if we try to micromanage the environment? 

Yes, we have knowledge about the patterns of Nature, but do we know enough to predict it all? To control it? Despite our best efforts, can we explore “the Universe” enough to have all of the answers to every question?

…

In a word, “No.”

Unpredictability and unknowability are fundamental aspects of life. Yes, we learn, and the mystery still prevails.

Imagine it being any other way. What in god’s name would we then even do?

Of course, though, if this is true, can we relax? Do we not need to be on top of everything, or is it best to just let go of control fully? Absolutely, to so speak.

Again, no. In the context of being alive, sometimes we do need to hold on, and sometimes we need to let go. It is appropriate to be closed to particular ideas and beliefs, and open to others. Trees occasionally need to be cut down, paths to be paved, and the wilderness to be free.

The question is, in every respect, what is enough? How much? And better yet, “Why?” Whatever the case, whatever the context, both capacities matter. To relax and to tighten up. To be open and to be closed. To have answers and to see new questions.

This ability to embrace both, to not absolutely go in either direction, is the art of allowing. It is neither absolutely passive, nor absolutely active. It is absolutely not absolute in any way, in fact.

Most importantly, without a doubt, it is what human life requires… for us to be open to something new while embracing the foundation upon which we stand. In that regard, thankfully, it’s what ensures the fact no one can ever have it all figured out, and that we all can contribute to growth.

Arguably, this is the quintessential gift of being human.Whether or not we see it as a gift, however, is a choice. We are free to choose whether or not to accept it, and to allow it.

With this in mind, KORU Real Wellness has created its first online course, “Moving Out of Your Own Way: The Freedom to Choose by Learning to Move”. Learn more at wearekoru.com.