āThe modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. Each one represents a certain vibrational frequency of consciousness. You need to be vigilant to make sure that one of them operates whenever you are engaged in doing anything at all ā from the most simple task to the most complex.ā
~Eckhart Tolle
Even though we may not realize it, we always have a choice about how we move through the moments of our lives.
What choices are you making? Are you asleep at the wheel, letting your habits run wild? Or are you awake to the moments of your life?
Take driving your car to do an errand as an example. You can be lost in your mind, totally on automatic, doing everything but being conscious of your present moment experience. Or you can see the light and color around you, feel the sensations of pressure and vibration, be alive to the movements of the breath.
The Possibility of Happiness
āA human mind is a wandering mind and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind,ā write Harvard psychologists Michael Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert. In a research study, they found that people’s minds wander about half the time and that these wandering thoughts do not bring happiness.
And here is where the opportunity lies. If we stay asleep to our lives, our minds will wander to the unresolved, regretful past and the fear-based, pessimistic future. But conscious awareness is always here! In any moment, we can turn away from the thinking mind and experience the reality of the present moment.
And just one moment of pure awareness reveals that peace is possible. With the volume of the busy mind turned down, we get to fully live ā moment by moment.
Be Present in Your Life
I can hear your protests already: āI tried that but my mind is too activeā…āI can’t slow down when I have so much to do.ā
Believe me, I know. My mind can also be quite a force to deal with. But what I offer you is the potential for approaching the doing of your life with awareness. Begin small, and be inspired to truly show up in your existence.
Rather than being lost in an unhappy mind, enliven your senses, investigate your experience to see what is actually true, and deconstruct the way you take things for granted to discover the source of reality.
For when we understand the absolute truth of things ā objects, beliefs, emotions, our ideas about ourselves ā we recognize that freedom is possible and love eternal.
How to Do Awakened Doing
Let’s revisit the quote by Eckhart Tolle that began this post:
āThe modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. Each one represents a certain vibrational frequency of consciousness. You need to be vigilant to make sure that one of them operates whenever you are engaged in doing anything at all ā from the most simple task to the most complex.ā
Acceptance
We all know what it’s like to reject our current circumstances. We avoid, pretend, react ā anything but actually be with what is. Acceptance invites us into the truth of the moment. We are willing to see things as they are. We say, āYes!ā to now.
And if we resist the reality of the moment, we accept the resistance as well. Whatever is present, we accept. This is the end of the inner war, the abandonment of mind-created conflict, the welcoming of peace.
So next time you are doing the dishes or taking out the garbage or contracting in judgment when your loved one, again, does that thing that irritates the hell out of you, consider acceptance. Experience sensation, feel the burn, and gladly receive all of it.
Enjoyment
Mr. Tolle is not exhorting us to enjoy everything we do. Remember, he says that awakened doing involves bringing at minimum one of these qualities into our momentary experience. But when you consciously open to the reality of what you are actually doing, you may find enjoyment in the least expected places.
Our thoughts are the preeminent enjoyment-killer. Sure, pleasant thoughts can arise that engender experiences of happiness and joy. But, as we all know, most thoughts are anxious, frustrated, critical, and sad, reminding us of what is lacking or not good enough. They don’t set the stage for an experience of enjoyment.
But if we remove our attention from these thoughts, we just might find that our activities are pleasant. Delete your thinking about household chores or working out, and you might find that enjoyment is inherent right in the doing.
Try it and see. Is displeasure anywhere but in your thoughts?
Enthusiasm
I love this word! Enthusiasm oozes some of my favorite qualities: curiosity, lively interest, being fired up and alive. The word enthusiasm originates from the Greek meaning āinspiredā or āpossessed by a god.ā
Why not be possessed by your life? Be zealous, eager, enthusiastic. Approach your actions as if they are fresh and new in every moment ā because they are. Forget memory, and invest yourself fully in the experience of now.
It’s the mind that detracts from enthusiasm. Subtract the mind, and see what remains. This is divine mathematics.
Acceptance, enjoyment, enthusiasm. Infuse your actions with these qualities and experience the end of mindless doing. Wake up, be alive in your life, and open to the miracle of this present moment.
What about you? How can you be more alive in your life by accepting, enjoying, and being enthusiastic? I’d love to hear…
Yogasavy says
Great points. Going through life with the heart and eyes open is so necessary.
Gail Brenner says
Yes, Yogasavy. If we go through life with our heart and eyes open, we realize how precious it all is.
MrLovingKindness says
āa wandering mind is an unhappy mindā
Yes. And concentration practice trains the mind not to wanderā¦
Gail Brenner says
Hi Mr. LK,
I totally support practices that help us relax away from the mind. As we are learning, living with our attention in the mind is not a happy existence.
My experience is that ultimately, all practices fall away. Adyashanti calls this true meditation, where there is openness to all things always. The doing of the practice ends, and all that’s left is being. A practice can be an extremely helpful stepping stone to the realization of enduring happiness.
May we all realize enduring happiness…
MrLovingKindness says
Yesā¦, but Adyashanti did an *awful lot* of practice before all practices fell away. Itās a bit of a catch-22. When most people try to *just be*, their minds bounce every which way, as you aptly point out is not much fun. However, if their minds didnāt do that, they would already *be* happy, and there would be no need for any practice or discussion.
What I mean by concentration practice is not something that takes us away from the mind, but rather a training that āconcentratesā the mind in the sense of it being less dilute, scattered, or distracted.
Gail Brenner says
Yes, practices can be very useful, and then they fall away in their own time when they aren’t needed anymore.
Northstar says
Thank you for these reminders Gail. And thank you Eckhart! I am learning that if I can accept whatever is occurring then enjoyment often seems to naturally follow – even when what is occurring is not that pleasurable. Enjoyment seems to flow out of accepting and experiencing my ‘beingness’ rather than relying on what is occurring on the outside to bring me pleasure or happiness. And it’s so much fun stumbling and bumbling into these understandings!
Gail Brenner says
Love this comment, Northstar! If our intention is clear and we stay with what we love, the understandings come in their own time – not possible to force them.
You offer a beautiful description of happiness flowing naturally from accepting things as they are. It’s such a relief from tension to no longer be relying on external circumstances to feel happy. And we discover that happiness is already here without looking outward for it.
Thanks so much for sharing your understandings…
Clare says
Enthusiasm opens up the mind to life, to new opportunities to risk, to new ideas and it can (and most likely should) refresh old ones. Enthusiasm is the emotion that stirs creativity. Great post.
Gail Brenner says
I couldn’t say this any better, Clare: “enthusiasm opens up the mind to life.” The mind is very good at squashing enthusiasm, but when we put the mind to the side, being enthusiastic is so easy!
Christopher Foster says
Enthusiasm is a beautful quality. I think it comes very naturally to us when our first love, our first enthusiasm is for the simple joy of being who we truly are.
Gail Brenner says
Hi Chris,
Your words ooze a deep sense of knowing – enthusiasm coming naturally when our first love is the simple joy of being who we truly are.
Always a joy to connect with you…
Sandra / Always Well Within says
Hello Gail,
It’s amazing how we are so enslaved by our thoughts and emotions that often we feel that we have no choice to suffer. But, as you point out, we do have a choice though we may not always be aware of it.
This psychological research about the wander of mind is interesting! This isn’t the essence of mind, but it is the true state of affairs for most of us. The wonderful thing about mind is that it can be trained and transformed. In this article, you give us the methods and the encouragement we need to do so. Thank you.
Gail Brenner says
Hi Sandra,
Great to see you again! I love that you point out that the wandering mind is not the mind at its essence. As I know you know, once transformed by understanding, mind is clear, open, quiet, and in that state functions at its best to do what’s needed. We can compare that with a mind that ruminates, endlessly analyzes, or goes into a fog, leaving no room for clarity to emerge.
I’m always amazed by the freedom that’s possible.
Galen Pearl says
Like other commenters, I, too, was intrigued by the wandering mind/unhappy mind connection. In my own life, I have tried to reset my homepage (where our mind goes when it is not otherwise engaged) to a happy place. This takes some focus on developing mind habits that lift us up rather than bring us down. This is some fascinating stuff!
Gail Brenner says
And it all starts with awareness, Galen. When we are aware that our mind has wandered into unhappy thinking, we can bring our attention here into the present. Happy thoughts might appear, but there is great peace in the space of no-thought.
What is revolutionary is that where we place our attention can greatly shift our experience.
Ajen says
Oooo… I like this, “Itās the mind that detracts from enthusiasm. Subtract the mind, and see what remains. This is divine mathematics.” What a clear exhortation to consider getting our “self” out of the way. This reminds me of another quote, “let go and let god”.
Understanding that we have control over our actions in the moment and that we have no control over the outcomes, we are then able limit our wandering minds by not focusing on the what-ifs and to focus our energy on the moments… with enthusiasm!
Thanx Gail!
Gail Brenner says
Thanks so much for such a beautiful comment, Ajen.
We realize so much more energy and focus when we let go of wandering thoughts and what-ifs, and as you point out, this is the logical thing to do as we cannot control outcomes.
ray says
Hi,
I’m reading Tolle now, and love your take. Where do the Tolle quotes come from?
Cheers, Ray
Gail Brenner says
Hi Ray, and welcome to you. Thanks for visiting.
I am diligent about collecting quotes that resonate with me. I receive Eckhart Tolle’s email newsletters, and this quote was featured in the most recent one.
JB says
As someone dealing with existential issues, “panic disorder”, and something of a quarter life crisis. How do I make sense of it all? By not trying to make sense of it all and being in the moment? Then thoughts arise that I’m just masking my greater concerns about the life that I am living by trying to distract myself from it. I’d truly appreciate some clarity
Gail Brenner says
A warm welcome to you, JB.
I appreciate your question and your desire for clarity. My experience is that the only way to make sense of anything is to experience it in the moment. This is where the ultimate truth can be discovered. Otherwise, we can get tangled on our thoughts forever.
Your thought that you are masking your concerns by being with your present moment experience is another thought. Is it true? Are you masking your concerns by being fully alive to whatever is present?
You have raised some important questions, and I don’t think I can do them justice in a response here. I appreciate that you are asking these questions and searching for answers. I wish you well as you navigate your way to peace and understanding.
Tess The Bold Life says
I love the Echart quotes. Love them. I just returned from spending 10 days with my children and grandchildren. I mostly let go of my blogging and enjoyed every sweet moment. I’m enjoying blogging. I let go of pressure and the need to get everything done. It’s impossible. I’m being and blogging in the moment;)
Gail Brenner says
So beautiful to hear about this, Tess. Being in the moment with your loved ones – and with blogging.
If we feel under pressure, our minds are pulled into the future. Good for you for letting that go and reaping the benefits of simply being.
JB says
Thanks for that response Gail. I will reevaluate those thoughts and feelings
Gail Brenner says
I wish you well with your journey, JB.
Amanda Snow says
Hi Gail! I’m in the middle of ‘The Power of Now’ so the message in this post totally resonates with me.
Personally, I think conditioned fear and anxiety keeps me from approaching every part of my life with enthusiasm. I hold on for dear life to what I know and find I have an urge to resist new experiences. Yuk.
First step is acceptance, which is my greatest take away from this post.
Best,
Amanda
Gail Brenner says
Hi Amanda,
I love that you are reading the Power of Now and that you are beginning to see that fear and anxiety are holding you back. You are right on the precipice. To live with enthusiasm, to be fully alive, means stepping out into the unknown – away from the safety net, out of the comfort zone. There is no way to be truly free without the willingness to let go of the known and the familiar.
This is what is being asked of you. Look deep into your heart, and you will find the courage you are seeking.
Love to you…