How To Relax
Are We Trying To Hard?
In “How To Relax”, author Thich Nhat Hanh, known as the "father of mindfulness" shares little drops of wisdom page after page, most of which are an invitation for reflection or meditation. I truly appreciate the simplicity of his teachings, no highly choreographed visualizations, no journal prompts or assignments to be completed, just the invitation to breathe and relax.
The Key To Happiness
Apparently, it's as easy as letting go of our idea of happiness. With mindfulness, we can be present and hold our awareness in the now. To the contrary, the more common state of being, is casting our mind into the future when something will have happened… and we will be happy. According to Thich Nhat Hanh, this is precisely the issue with humans today, this failure to recognize that nothing needs to happen in order for us to be happy.
A Dead Tree In The Garden
Thich Nhat Hanh offers the perspective that instead of dwelling on the dead tree, we can rejoice in the beauty that remains within the rest of the garden. This particular passage in the book really rang true for me. I will admit that I have always had a bit of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), especially in the manner that things out of place have a tendency to bother me more than most others. Of course, there are positives to having an above average “attention to detail” and I believe I have done well to find work and hobbies that reward this character trait. However, when it comes to a “dead tree in a garden”, I will admit that my focus would likely go to the dead tree. Moving forward, I will recognize “dead trees” as opportunities to become more present, to let go of my attachment of what something “should” look like.
A few of my favorite quotes from the book!
Each of us is like the waves and also like the water (...) We already have calmness in us; we just need to know how to make it manifest.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
To be mindful is to be truly present with your body and your mind, to harmonize your intentions and actions, and to be in harmony with those around you.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
(...) we all know how to sit and how to breathe. That’s all we have to do. People sometimes say, “Don’t just sit there, do something.” But we have to reverse that statement to say, “Don’t just do something, sit there.”Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
People sometimes say, “Don’t just sit there, do something.” But we have to reverse that statement to say, “Don’t just do something, sit there.”Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
Mindfulness is always mindfulness of something. We can be mindful of our breath, our footsteps, our thoughts, and our actions.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
There’s nothing you could buy your loved ones that could give them as much true happiness as your gift of awareness.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
We’re fearful that if we let go we’ll have nothing else to cling to.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
Life is both dreadful and wonderful. To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects of life.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
We tend to postpone being alive to the future, the distant future, we don’t know when. It’s as if now is not the moment to be alive.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
In order to be happy, we need first of all to let go of our ideas of happiness.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
When you plant a tree, if it doesn't grow well, you don’t blame the tree. You look into the reasons it isn’t doing well.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
(...) a smile can be a kind of yoga practice, yoga for the mouth.Thich Nhat Hanh : How To Relax
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