The best fruit is laboured for

Whatever pushes you. Let it do so with gratitude. The best fruit is laboured for. 

When we are in a challenging place it can be really hard to remember that we are being kissed by the sun. Hard to remember that in some way we are going to harvest and grow the best fruit from this difficult place. 

For me, the most important thing when suffering or a challenge comes up is to orient myself in the direction of my heart. So as to remain anchored as possible in the goodness and wealth of my being. Otherwise, I can get lost in my suffering and forget that something good is being opened and revealed.  

Just like the diamond is born from the carbon being compressed, the same is true for us.  

But we need to shift and ground ourselves in order to be able to sit in the uncomfortable space.  

Acceptance.  

If there is anything hard happening in this moment. Whether it’s significant, or not so significant, let’s teach our bodies to respond in a way that activates a higher awareness and healthy place to respond from. Let’s learn to lift our faces toward the sun that’s beating down on us so intensely. 

Let’s ground down into ourselves now – even if it feels scary. We will ground ourselves in the immovable inside. 

Let’s come to find the warming breeze, our breath, the current of life running through us. No matter the territory or the landscape we are standing in. It is always there. 

Do this now. Noticing the breath on your nostrils. The quiet and subtle rising and falling of life within your chest. Recognise it as a friend. Meet it now with the same sensation you have for those you love. An utterly reliable companion. Accompanying us through everything we go through. This is here for us. Stable, accountable. Breathing in, I am aware of my inbreath. Breathing out I am aware of my outbreath. Inbreath. Outbreath. Inbreath. Outbreath. Your friend.

This is the first step in orienting ourselves towards what is immovable in us, to find and connect with the current. Our breathing.  

And there may be great fear, great pain, grief, whatever feels hard for you. Bring it forth into your awareness. Notice how that fear swirls in front of you. But the breath it sits in you. Watching. Feeling. Seeing.  

Our struggles and our strife are often somewhere in front of us. Products of the mind products of thought. Many compare it to a movie screen. Our life projected onto the screen and we are the ones watching. And gradually by noticing our breath sits behind and apart from the swirl of the mind we can gain a little distance. Even if it’s just a small gap, use the breath to pull back from the swirling stories of your discomfort and distress.  

Breathing in, I am aware of my inbreath. Breathing out I am aware of my outbreath. Inbreath. Outbreath. Inbreath. Outbreath. 

I find the greatest way to quiet the storm of my suffering is to identify what I have been resisting. The mind is often so busy telling our story, screaming it loudly, that we are not listening, not really listening.  

What have you been resisting? 

Look closely and it shall lift. 

If you would like to bring up something that might be uncomfortable for you right now. Something you feel able to hold for a moment. I invite you to bring it forward in front of you on your movie screen. Gift it a name. If it’s vague and opaque you can just say fear – even if you don’t know what it’s from. And just say “I see you fear” I see you and I allow you; you are welcome here. You may sing your song and dance your dance, it is alright.  

Create a little space for it to express itself. Feeling whatever, you need to feel in this moment knowing that your breath, your friend, is holding you. Knowing that the long line of humanity that has come before you and its innate capability to stand and endure life supports you also. Knowing that you have access to great strength. 

Create that gap. Even if it’s just an inch. 

This practice is really about growing a strong spine, a type of fearlessness even in the face of our greatest fears. We watch and we breathe. We name. And we accept. And it’s in this way that we free these things from running wild within us. 

There was a little boy who had a dream each night that there was a monster chasing him. As soon as he faced the monster it disappeared. This is how we face our monsters. How we build the strength of acceptance, peace, and welcoming. And in doing this we create a state of inner hospitality. 

Anchor into your breath again. Focusing on this quiet benevolent and generous engine. The quiet companion of your breath. You will know how strong and capable you are with it by your side. 

And we now lift our face up to the sky, the sun, and the light. As a gesture of surrender. Of our willingness. And we hand over anything that feels tight and hard, knowing that just as the plum grows from green to deep purple we too are being kissed by the sun in this moment. Transforming from something hard to something very soft and sweet. The best fruit. 

Really let your body recognise the feeling of letting go. Of looking up and handing over. Finding your breath again. Breathing in. And breathing out. 

May you accept whatever comes to your door. May you grow in strength and courage. May you always know your immovable centre - and may you face toward the light even when there is dark.  

The best fruit is laboured for. 

Now bring your attention back to your surroundings and just find a little gratitude for the courage you just exhibited. I invite you to use this practice whenever you feel stressed or if a monster is chasing you that you can’t seem to outrun. Just take a moment to turn towards what is immovable within you. 

So that you may come to learn to dance beside these difficult things, acknowledging the goodness that will be born from them. 

—
Andrew.