Making Hay whilst the sun shines.. [Weirdness Warning!]

I‘m sure we have all heard this advice but one of things that I have wrestled with over the years is how to interpret this meaningfully in my life and business.  After all, it is no use having the  benefit of aphorisms such as this if we can’t make them work for us. 

My work involves various different facets or phases and some involve talking to clients and doing work, some in marketing and talking to prospective clients, others in admin-type work, and finally being more creative doing thinking, writing and designing. 

For me, I have come to the conclusion that, unless it is really urgent, there is seldom any value in trying to force things and work out-of-phase with my energy and the energy that seems to surround me.  I realise that I am straying into seemingly ‘weird’ territory with statements like this.  However, farmers will always work in accord with the season and the weather, and some such as Rudolf Steiner advocated doing so according to the phase of the moon too. 

Yesterday, was a perfect ‘English’ day for me; walking in the June sunshine along the River Itchen, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside.  This is a truly beautiful river that runs only 2-3’ deep with fast flowing, crystal clear waters full of trout and gently waving weeds.  I can think of no better image for a flow state than this river.  Being there I feel a state of total contentment and peace. 

If I can somehow connect with my internal state and the energy around me and act accordingly hopefully I will do the best I can in that moment and on that day. This approach is, however, somewhat scary when one’s mind is telling you that you really need to do this that or the other thing and waiting is for wusses!  Doing nothing ‘positive’ can feel both lazy and evasive.  Surely I should be doing something useful!

I don’t know if I’m the only one who wrestles with such ‘stuff’ and would be interested to hear your thoughts on this

 “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine”   Henry Ward Beecher

 

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5 Responses to “Making Hay whilst the sun shines.. [Weirdness Warning!]”

  1. Paleroth says:

    Interesting thoughts – thank you for sharing!

    I know the feeling of guilt when I do what I feel is right instead of what is “on the list”. But the flow of energy is so different, and I get so much more done if I trust my impulses. Then I will often get done what is on the to-do list as well – somehow, in between. 🙂

  2. Patrisha,
    many thanksfor your comment and I’m interested to hear that this approach works for you too. Do you think that your Aikido helps you tune in of this kind of thing?

  3. Paleroth says:

    Does aikido help me to tune in? An interesting question. I find that whenever I’m tuned out, aikido helps me to find my centre. And when I’m centred, I’m more at ease with my needs.

    It means a lot to me to go to the dojo and practise on a regular basis. Over the years, I got better at reminding myself in my daily activities that I can breathe and centre myself instead of being angry or hectic. Being centred helps me to connect to the situation and to myself – and this again helps to see what is important and to act accordingly.

  4. I can understand that. Taking oneself out of one’s head is often the key to moving forwards.

    The form we learnt was Ki in Daily Life and it aimed ot helping you use the things you learn in Aikido in an everyday situation

  5. Paleroth says:

    I bought Ki in Daily Life (the book) just recently, but haven’t read it yet.

    The form of aikido we practise in our dojo is the one preserved and taught by Morihori Saito in Iwama, with a large focus on kihon waza.

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