I am recovering simplicity of heart. I did not expect it would happen. Nor did I expect that it would not. The lack of expectation makes the progress all the sweeter. Now the challenge lies in articulating how this is occurring.
The physical heart gives and receives through arteries and veins. A critical aspect of the heart functioning well is that the pathways for giving and receiving be as clear as possible.
Drawing a parallel, a simple heart has no clutter. This creates a feeling of lightness, ease and flow.
The clutter in my heart has been about two forms of clinging — either wanting life to return to what I saw as a better time (the pleasure principle) or wanting life to have not been so difficult (avoidance of pain/the flight principle). These opposing poles, seeking past pleasure and fearing past pain, were actively influencing both my present and the future. To greater or lesser degrees, they played off one another, somewhat like magnets in an active field.
Demagnetizing these two autobiographical “storylines” began when I did a radical decluttering of books and memorabilia. I stopped holding onto things which represented past pleasure or pain. Immediately following that, I realized I wanted a simple heart.
I did not consciously work on recovering inner simplicity. Rather, the process happened of its own accord. And I trust that it will continue to do so.
Writing this post has been helpful. Articulating provides greater clarity. In this sense, it is like placing names on a previously unmarked map.
I am making progress. Life is easier, more straightforward. Simple Matters.
Simple Matters 