keep being the sponge

Some of the best advice I ever got was to, "keep being the sponge." Like a child. Simple. And if you're to any degree at all like me, maybe you can relate. Even just as an allegedly full-grown human adult, you might notice simple ain't so easy, especially in the sustaining part. Until we realize it's always already here, waiting for us to join, literally. "Be ease-full" something deep within and expressed everywhere outside of us is, even right now, beckoning. 

Then comes the realization of "I don't know," with or without a side of slight, or slightly debilitating panic. And in what I would most definitely in hindsight refer to as the best of times, the resounding question, "HOW?" To which all of existence, especially that perceived to be somehow contained within this me, responds with "find out!"

The short answer, I've found, is practice. Because mostly we don't know. So this means we know most things first by becoming (usually, mostly for most of us most of the time) painfully aware of the not knowing. Mostly I practice because I'd rather practice than feel that pain. Can I get curious? Will I let myself wonder what happens next? Sometimes. Mostly I don't know. One thing I seem to be learning is that when I accept the pain as yet another form of temporary, ("SO  extra!") regardlessly accept all as current (as in now) I have a much better shot at seeing it also as a current, as in electricity, as in generating energy. And just like this, "POW!" Something worth celebrating.

Heck, we coulda' possibly stopped to celebrate at "it's temporary!" Next time. Mental note. I mean it.

Just this. Only this? Could it really be this simple? Are we willing? When are we willing? Care to commit to noticing? Life itself begs these questions and every question. Beckoning in every waking moment just this way. Please look. Look. Please.

And so whatever we notice grows. And so sowing, whatever we notice grows.

And looking invites a bit more deeply into the pleasing part. Pleasure. As a sense and sense-ability. Sometimes as a sensational sensation. And it only takes us simply seeing, as in momentarily being seeing's most basic foundational component, also a temporary, momentary sensation. Embodying curiosity. Be tantalized. How? Simply be.

How do I mean? Well, even the word, "please," demonstrates so perfectly. Its dual meaning intended above, as 1. to politely request (maybe even beg a little) expresses the humbling inherent in the ask. Kinda' like asking for help, and 2. to please one's self or another; to be pleasing. Pleasure-able. Willing to please. One might also call this willing to serve. 

Some might say serving is the key to glee. And on this we don't need to know how. Wheeeeeee! (You mean we can celebrate this too?! Yaaaassss, puh-leeeeeeeeeez!!)

Is spongy starting to feel more sustainable yet? Perhaps more tempting?

Of course it's always OK to pause. Every engine starts from a "cold," or at least cool-ish, resting point, and to it must return in order to be started again upon igniting. So these ups and downs as we experience them; these varieties, once seen, can be ever so simply seen as tiny beggars asking not only to be truly seen but celebrated, appreciated. Every one. Everyone. Every thing. Everything.

Sidenote: "But What if I Don't REALLY feel it? Isn't that just faking?" We Can Choose How We See (The 2nd layer of celebrating some might call the thrust in the engine, even when it's resting.) And yes, you can even be real while faking. How? Say, "I'm faking it." Try it, dare to stay open to whatever you notice within next. Then see what's asking to be expressed after that, and again and again for as long as your attention is willing and able to stick with the simply noticing. Willing to see where it leads? Curious what happens next?

Experiencing something as authentic isn’t a guarantee that it's real or lasting as a sensation, or that the person, place or thing it seems to be felt in response or reaction to is real or lasting.  It’s simply another precious moment of sensory awareness. As valid as you validate it. As valued as you value it. As with everything in experience, it's as big a deal as you make it.

On this I offer the following: the fact that it's choose-able is what's amazing. (Amazing is intentionally used here as both as a description and as an indescribable sensation: as in Uh-may-SZING!) Or at least it can be. All personal experiments thus far serve as proof in this writer's perspective. What about yours, reader? (Please leave an interactive response below.)

The most delicious and delicate (and yes, so delicious because it is so delicate) part: the more we choose it, the more it comes naturally. Imagine the default generalized agenda for every day, running in the background as follows:

Celebrating!

The fact that it doesn’t come with a guarantee is the sweetness. It’s here, in a palpable way, pointing the way to ease. It's simple and not easy calm (not-clamming up) and peace (not-falling to pieces). We might call it the confidence required for not trying. It's what happens when we let ourselves simply be. I say this to myself and others a lot. "Let me be!" has become an internalized mantra to apply when I notice the urge to scream it at somebody.

A little more on how the individual overall process might go. Over time, the next thing we know we more often and more automatically see the act of differentiating is what we’re built for, and so eventually celebrating even the harshest of painful strike plates comes more and more easily. Gradually and inevitably in direct proportion to will and ability. The second layer internally goes something like "what a relief it is to see they’re meant to use for striking, sparking and sharpening!"

Yahoo or boohoo, it’s all here for you.

Automatically, embedded in the human algorithm, is that whatever we see brings awareness of choice. Secondarily we, in each moment, choose to either spend time focusing in "right now not I'm not getting what I want" mode (AKA tantrum - life goal: video tape mine, and post the best ones here) or moving towards what I want.

And is not even this too, also, alone, worth celebrating?

A reward and award. Both "ours" when we actively celebrate. How? Intentionally chosen celebratory action. Intentionally loving interaction. Doing, moving, speaking and even intentionally thinking and intentionally noticing whatever is emotionally and in all forms sensed or felt.

One final important detail. While popularity can feel so good, this is about being the celebrate-ee, not the celebrity. Attraction and the viral widespread version of it we call fame comes and goes like anything else, bearing its unique costs and benefits. (As I've often heard/read the famous express: what a lie!) And as the happiest of the most famous will tell you, it's best to stay focused on the eternal absolute potential within which enables us to keep noticing again and again and again. (What a life!) Why? Because it is the actual gauge measuring the motor's capacity, not other's opinions, indicating what we truly need to learn next. To be satisfied. To access the sensation of "simply be." Some might call it "enough."

Besides we, being human, are all to easily confused. Not to mention forgetful ("What is, and for that matter - where is the capacitor, again?")

What an adventure it is, truly, when willing to simply be. It doesn’t have any have-to’s. It’s full of promise and potential. Ebullient: seething and seeping outta’ you, whether you are aware or not. What fortunate experiencers are we! Notice? With me? Be the celebrating? Feel the "pleas" equal to the "please?" First choose to simply see?

May we be aware.

Joseph R. Broussard

Mindfully Applied Processor