Practicing Restraint

According to ancient and modern thought, restraint is one of the gifts of being human. We can choose NOT to do something. Animals live by instinct and lack the intention and purpose of a human experience.

Currently, all of us are making choices to follow or not follow recommendations from our Governor to avert more COVID chaos. We also make decisions every day to avoid unhealthy habits and behaviors. Do we take advantage of this gift or are we on auto-pilot, unconsciously doing what we have always done and ending up going down the same rabbit hole?

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) was a seer and saint (posthumously, of course, declared a saint ). She had visions of being ONE with all living things and made it possible for many others to see beyond the separation of the spiritual and physical life. This of course was heresy in its’ day. St. Francis was another mystic that saw the connection between all living things. The Native Americans also, lived this way.

Do you feel separate or isolated? If you do, you can make a different choice, and see the connection between all things. How is this possible? We can use our imagination to begin, but soon, that will not be necessary, you will jsut KNOW it is true. Practice being a part of all things daily, as you step outside, connecting with the rain, see it raining on all of us, or as you breathe, know that we all breathe the same air, as you nurture your body, know it comes from the same source for everyone, the Earth.

When we make a choice to DO something, we are also making a choice NOT TO DO something in the same moment. This is called “free will” in some schools of thought. There is no separation, you are not alone.

One final quote from a modern-day activist:

“The most curious of all . . . lives are the human ones, because we can destroy, but also because we can decide not to destroy. The turtle does what she does, and magnificently. She can’t not do it, though, any more than the beaver can decide to take a break from building dams or the bee from making honey. But if the bird’s special gift is flight, ours is the possibility of restraint. We’re the only creature who can decide not to do something we’re capable of doing. That’s our superpower, even if we exercise it too rarely.”

— Bill McKibbon