We see lots of magazine articles and television shows these days talking about “de-cluttering our lives”. This takes that idea a little deeper, I think.
~ Beginners acquire new theories and techniques until their minds are cluttered with options.
Advanced students forget their many options. They allow the theories and techniques that they have learned to recede into the background.
Learn to unclutter your mind. Learn to simplify your work.
As you rely less and less on knowing just what to do, your work will become more direct and more powerful. You will discover that the quality of your consciousness is more potent than any technique or theory or interpretation.
Learn how fruitful (the block group) or individual suddenly becomes when you give up trying to do just the right thing. ~
… from The Tao of Leadership by John Heider
Karen….Oh so right you are…these days we carry so much superfluous information around in our heads. I see many people who are like plate spinners, always adding another plate to balance. For some folks clutter can also manifests in their lives in the form of material possessions. The recent economic downturn has caused some people to examine the need for so much. I believe the pursuit of material wealth leads to great amounts of stress, which we are starting to understand is possibly the root cause of much of the disease among us.
As you know I was able to reduce my world a few years ago to very few possessions, as I undertook a long distance backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. I learned many lessons about myself on that sojourn, and one was learning just how good it felt to be in tune with my surroundings; and less and less with the material trappings of our modern world. While I am not bashing capitalism, nor am I promoting or encouraging asceticism, I do believe that we could all probably get by with less.
Relying on intuition instead of struggling to “do it correctly” may be beneficial in reducing stress on the practitioner as well. I have always believed that intuition can lead the way in some bodywork modalities. I find that to be true today to a great degree in my practice. I do believe that proper technique is very important but I think sometimes, like with many things, we take something simple and complicate it. Sometimes a basic foundation is all that is necessary, and after that, intuition can be our guide. I am curious what others will add to this conversation.
Peace,
John