Washing Dishes, Sipping Tea: Mastering the Art of Mindful Living in 2024
Debut author Surbhi Kakar unveils the path to genuine vitality in the upcoming year.
As our planet Earth completes another orbit around the sun, we also step into a new year. How was the last year for you? If we ask ourselves this question, most of us would take some time to reflect on the significant events that occurred last year to and around us. The irony here is that we tend to get quite excited when the new year is about to come, but when it actually arrives, we slowly drift into the monotony of living life mechanically, performing our daily tasks, and trying to hold on or anticipate future events.
This habit of clinging to something in the future or past inhibits us from truly being present in the moment. This is one of the reasons why people often feel depressed, particularly individuals approaching middle age. Most people experience a mid-life crisis during this time because they spend almost half of their lives running and clinging to things, thinking about future events that will bring them joy or alleviate their pain. However, by this age, most of us have achieved the basic comforts of life, but we still feel unhappy. This can lead to inner conflicts at this age because our belief of acquiring a nice home or a fancy car no longer brings us joy. So, how do we truly find happiness?
In one of the verses of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu talks about the importance of slowing down and truly living in the moment:
To keep on filling is not as good as stopping. Overfilled, the cupped hands drip; better to stop pouring. A contented man is never disappointed. He who knows when to stop is preserved from peril, Only thus can you endure long. One who lives in accordance with nature Does not go against the way of things. He moves in harmony with the present moment, Always knowing the truth of just what to do.
In my upcoming book, The Dancing Leaf, I reflect upon several such verses from the Tao Te Ching and share my experiences on how they improved the quality of my life when I started implementing them in both my personal and professional life.
In the above verse, Lao Tzu beautifully discusses how not knowing when to stop filling up our cup of life can lead to overflow. When we are unable to stop the overflowing, we often cloud our hearts with fear of losing our sense of belongingness, thereby, leading us to accumulate more. This cycle can result in frustration and disappointment as the more we fill, the more we dry up from within.
With this understanding, how would you like to live this year? True aliveness and joy come our way when we root ourselves in the present moment. Simple things, like watching a bird eat its food, raindrops on the tip of the leaves, or marvelling at the blue sky, can simply generate seeds of joy within us.
So, let this new year bring about a new you who slows down and appreciates the beauty of the sunrise and the delightful laughter of your loved ones. Finding moments where you are not saying or doing anything but just staying in the present, enjoying the wonders of life that are always around you—things we often overlook amid the incessant chatter of our minds.
Having said that, it does not necessarily mean that one should not go about performing their usual day-to-day tasks. Here are some ways you can truly enjoy the present moment and still accomplish everything you want to.
As a Zen saying goes, ‘When you sit, just sit. When you walk, just walk. But whatever you do, don’t wobble.’ So, today while washing your dishes or cooking or working on your laptop, just wash or cook or work on your laptop. Do nothing else. Don’t try to multitask. If you have an urge to jump to another task, just notice it gently without judgment for yourself and continue the task at hand. With this, you will notice that simple acts of washing or cooking or working on your laptop contain several wonders within themselves if truly done in the present moment. Try to be there with the task at hand with all your gentleness as if you are dealing with a child.
Make some time to just be and do nothing. Today just sit on your couch and enjoy sitting on your couch. While drinking your tea, let go of the next task on your to-do list and simply relish the warmth cradled in your hands. Observe the tendrils of steam rising from your tea, reminiscent of clouds drifting across the sky.
If you bring all your awareness to the current task at hand, while letting go of the urge to handle ‘other’ things at the same time, you’ll find it easier to relax and achieve your goals faster without being hindered by constant mental chatter.
‘The Dancing Leaf’ will be published in January 2024. Check our website for latest updates!
About the Author
Surbhi Kakar originally from India, works as a data scientist based in the Netherlands. Prior to delving into the realm of data, she inspired and shaped young minds as an assistant professor. On the verge of securing her PhD in computer science, she has enriched various international journals and conferences with her insightful research work. Her interests are vast and varied and include addressing challenges within data science, solving research problems, reflecting on age-old scriptures and philosophy, singing, and cherishing quiet moments within nature. In her quest for inner balance, she is also on a journey to become a yoga teacher.
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