Stay Open

(upbeat music) Headspace Studio. (upbeat music) Hey there, it's Dora. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Friday. At the end of each week, I like to reflect and rewind. And since I recently moved to Los Angeles, there's been a lot to reflect on, and I realize that I'm learning to be okay with being wrong, making mistakes, and enjoying new beginnings. In mindfulness, non-judging is a core practice. Being able to let go of the good or bad and allowing things to be as they are. So, if you're struggling to adjust to something new, how might you let go of those judgements and be in direct contact with the experience of life instead? Here's a story about how to approach things in a non-judgmental way. There once was a farmer and his son. One night, their horse broke free and ran away. When the neighbors heard the news, they were shocked. The horse represented a significant loss of income for the farmer. "Such bad luck," the neighbors sympathized. "Maybe good luck, maybe bad luck. "Who knows?" replied the farmer. The next day, the horse reappeared, leading three other magnificent wild mares back to the farm. The neighbors couldn't believe their eyes and shouted to the farmer, "What incredible luck." "Maybe good luck, maybe bad luck. "Who knows?" replied the farmer. A few days later, the farmer's son was trying to train one of the wild mares and was thrown to the ground awkwardly, breaking his leg. "Such awful luck," the neighbors once again told the farmer. "Maybe good luck, maybe bad luck. "Who knows?" replied the farmer. Later that week, soldiers marched into town looking to hire young men for the army and saw that the farmer's son wasn't able to walk. One of the soldiers told the farmer as they were leaving, "Yours is the only boy in town we're not taking with us. "You should consider yourself very lucky." "Maybe good luck, maybe bad luck. "Who knows?" replied the farmer. I love this story because the farmer demonstrates what it means to stay open, stay curious, and drop all sense of judgment. His response is equanimous, it's balanced. Imagine how different the story would've been if he decided to react. We get to witness what happens when we suspend judgment and just trust that things will unfold in their own way. Trusting the present moment, accepting how we feel, and surrendering into the now. When we can do this, as much as the mind wants to evaluate and analyze every moment, we can just trust in the way that things are. So, if cultivating balance is new for you, check out the Balance Course in the Headspace app. That's all for now. Thanks so much for listening. (mellow music)...