As seasons change from winter to spring, we start to see the natural renewal and growth in nature, as delicate tree blossoms, buds, and bulbs appear as if from nowhere. This reminds us of the underlying rhythm and wondrous possibilities of life that lie beneath the surface of the world around us. Even when there are forest fires and volcanic eruptions, nature eventually returns and renews itself.
Parts of our bodies go through a similar cyclical renewal; the cells in our stomach lining are replaced every five days and red blood cells every four months. There are around 10 trillion cells in the human body, many of which renew at different rates and some that never replace themselves, including neurons in the brain’s neocortex.
As humans, we tend to set ourselves aside from nature. The fact is that we are as much a part of nature as anything else on the planet and are subject to the same cycles and universal laws. As the British philosopher Alan Watts put it, “You didn’t come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here.” For those of us who live in temperate climates with changing seasons, during the winter we take refuge from the cold and dark days and as spring emerges, begin to feel greater vitality and aliveness. Every day of our life goes through its lifecycle of waking, activity, and then sleeping, from dawn to dusk. Every breath we take is a renewal of fresh energy into the body. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus (Her A Klite Us) said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
Although these cycles of renewal in nature are all around us. in our own lives, we sometimes feel that negative behaviours and old habits are here to stay; that things cannot change. When we wake up every day with the same story about our life, with its particular issues and challenges, it’s no wonder that we sometimes feel stuck. We replay the same patterns of beliefs and emotions that limit who we are and who we can become. For instance, many of us sometimes experience feelings of low self-worth; wounded from childhood, we learned to entertain the belief that we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive, or popular enough, or that there’s something wrong with us. Every time this memory is triggered, we feel insecure, separate, and unworthy, replaying the same old patterns. The sad fact is that these feelings may have originated many years ago in childhood, yet they may have shaped our lives, like a tree that bends and then grows at an unfortunate angle. Unlike a tree, we have much greater flexibility and freedom to change. As the writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Gote Ahh) observed, “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”
We can bring renewal into our lives by:
- Observing our experience in awareness, so we can change beliefs, feelings, and behaviours that no longer serve us, or the people around us
- Letting go of old habits by no longer identifying with them
- Knowing that we’re not our thoughts, emotions, or behaviour, which come and go
- Accepting life’s imperfections with compassion; that we’re part of nature, evolving, changing, ebbing, flowing, and sometimes getting stuck
- Allowing new possibilities to emerge and flower as we experience the transition from winter to spring inside ourselves
The very practice of mindfulness brings about renewal, as you’re awake to your present-moment experience, it will always be fresh and new, like stepping into a flowing river. In contrast, it’s when our level of awareness drops, and we rest back into the tired old furniture of the past that we encounter unhealthy aspects of ourselves that no longer serve us. By bringing kindness, openness, and awareness into each day, accepting ourselves as we are, we can discover the freedom and flexibility of new possibilities.
ough a similar cyclical renewal; the cells in our stomach lining are replaced every five days and red blood cells every four months. There are around 10 trillion cells in the human body, many of which renew at different rates and some that never replace themselves, including neurons in the brain’s neocortex.
As humans, we have a tendency to set ourselves aside from nature. The fact is that we are as much a part of nature as anything else on the planet and are subject to the same cycles and universal laws. As the British philosopher Alan Watts put it, “You didn’t come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here.” For those of us who live in temperate climates with changing seasons, during the winter we take refuge from the cold and dark days and as spring emerges, begin to feel greater vitality and aliveness. Every day of our life goes through its lifecycle of waking, activity, and then sleeping, from dawn to dusk. Every breath we take is a renewal of fresh energy into the body. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
Although these cycles of renewal in nature are all around us. in our own lives, we sometimes feel that negative behaviours and old habits are here to stay; that things cannot change. When we wake up every day with the same story about our life, with its particular issues and challenges, it’s no wonder that we sometimes feel stuck. We re-play the same patterns of beliefs and emotions that limit who we are and who we can become. For instance, many of us sometimes experience feelings of low self-worth; wounded from childhood, we learned to entertain the belief that we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive or popular enough, or that there’s something wrong with us. Every time this memory is triggered, we feel insecure, separate, and unworthy, replaying the same old patterns. The sad fact is that these feelings may have originated many years ago in childhood, yet they may have shaped our lives, like a tree that bends and then grows at an unfortunate angle. Unlike a tree, we have much greater flexibility and freedom to change. As the writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe observed, “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”
We can bring renewal into our lives by:
- Clearly observing our experience in awareness, so we can change beliefs, feelings, and behaviours that no longer serve us or the people around us
- Letting go of old habits by no longer identifying with them
- Knowing that we’re not our thoughts, emotions, or behaviour, which come and go
- Accepting life’s imperfections with compassion; that we’re part of nature, evolving, changing, ebbing, flowing, and sometimes getting stuck
- Allowing new possibilities to emerge and flower as we experience the transition from winter to spring inside ourselves
The very practice of mindfulness brings about renewal, as you’re awake to your present-moment experience, it will always be fresh and new, like stepping into a flowing river. In contrast, it’s when our level of awareness drops and we rest back into the tired old furniture of the past that we encounter unhealthy aspects of ourselves that no longer serve us. By bringing kindness, openness, and awareness into each day, accepting ourselves as we are, we can discover the freedom and flexibility of new possibilities.
Suggested weekly practice
- Reflecting on our long-held habits, beliefs, feelings, and behaviours that no longer serve us and are ripe for renewal.
- Acknowledging that we are very much part of nature and appreciating seasonal change as it emerges.
- Gently bringing renewal to areas where we feel damaged, unworthy, or limited with kindness and self-compassion.
Guidance
Find somewhere undisturbed and sit in a comfortable, dignified, and upright posture, where you can remain alert and aware.
There are two guided practices for this session. You can close your eyes, or lower your gaze while the meditations play.
- Play the first settling practice, then read through the session content, which you can print off if that helps.
- Then play the second practice to explore renewal.
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