Four Walls
Closed in. Head down. We are often walking through our daily lives in our own little worlds, often without much awareness of the world beyond us. This often is, or feels like, an easier and safer way to be, or, we may not even realise it’s happening, it’s just the way we habitually exist. We end up rarely having much awareness of what’s beyond us. I don’t necessarily mean the world at large, or any kind of huge picture of the globe beyond us, I mean more just the surroundings, goings-on of that which is just a little outside our own little world, just beyond the realms of our everyday vision.
We scroll, we consume, we complete a multitude of tasks, often involving bringing things into our bubble physically and energetically, but less time expanding outwards. We perhaps do not take the steps to move outwards, beyond our own micro existence to gather and bring other things into ourselves from just that little space beyond. By enlarging our awareness just a little further afield there could be a plethora of things that could be waiting to be absorbed, appreciated and brought in.
@iamlourobertson
This cannot always be achieved, or even need to be as, sometimes, our narrow focus is required right where we are, on day-to-day tasks, on what is right in front of us and although these can be consuming they are all necessary accomplishments and can be the vital building blocks for your day/weeks to flow. But, beyond this, I just wonder if we can open ourselves up a little. Like, as an analogy, we could be sat within our four walls at home and really enjoy the brickwork and the art that we have put on it, however, we may never have contemplated putting in a window or a door, which could reveal a most beautiful view the other side of that wall and even allow access to it, we just didn’t know. I think this is how we perpetually exist. We are blinkering ourselves, eliminating some of our senses, we are clinging on and staying in what would seem like complete tight control, and it could be incredibly beneficial to just take a look on the other side of the wall to see what’s there.
Winter can exaggerate this, there is a natural holding on, a tightness, a slight hibernation that keeps us small and closed in. Although in a more literal sense this hibernation is integral to the winter months, we can still look and feel beyond ourselves.
Where is the space to step outside of the bubble, out of your own little sphere, where is the space to breathe a little deeper, to look and feel beyond your metaphorical four walls?
This could provide new or forgotten joys, space, interests and perspectives, an aliveness.
How can this be cultivated? I think at any given moment, a moment to just pause is a great way to start. Pause, breathe, look around, absorb your surroundings. You may just see or feel something a little different.
Perhaps take a walk in a different direction. Perhaps listen to something new. Bring something new up in conversation and see where it leads. Perhaps look at the things you pass everyday but instead really notice it. How was that building made? How many people have sat on that bench, what were there stories? How old is that tree, how many times have its leaves fallen off? Ponder what the person at work might like to do on their weekends or how may emotions they have already felt so far this morning. You may be surprised as to what is present in this outer layer of your world.
I highly recommend taking a few metaphorical and literal steps, into the space just beyond yourself, it does not have to be widely expansive, not some crazy adventure outside of your scope, just venturing into the little space just outside the four walls of your current reality.
How about starting with one or all of these tomorrow:-
1) Take yourself for a walk, or whilst on your normal walk somewhere, stop for one minute, have a look around you and try and notice a bit of nature that you’ve not seen before, even some green grass or a small flower, really notice it, even touch it. What can you see?
2) When you pass someone, really notice their face and perhaps let your imagination run for a couple of minutes on who they are, what kind of day they might be having.
3) Instead of sitting in the same spot for your tea or coffee, take it outside.
These are just a few examples of breathing fresh life into your habits as well as often making us smile in the process.
I for one am going to endeavour to stay curious to what is just beyond. To try and keep all my senses open to receive. To seek and allow in what is just beyond my current scope of awareness.
