Opening the space

Sometimes, I say to myself that I don’t know what to do.

At times, too often. In the recent past, too frequently.

Most of the times, though, I do know. There’s an idea, as small and simple and naive as it can be, of what a next could be.

Like with what I’m doing right here, right now: writing.

In the past —you know, like 5 minutes ago — I’ve given credit to that thought. In so doing, I have blocked myself from moving on.

Have a similar experience? That of an intention, a desire, yearning to be set in motion. But you tell yourself that “the thing is that I don’t know what to do/write/create/draw/give/learn/start/choose.”

To break the spell of the illusion of action-blocking ignorance, this is what I just did: open the space.

I decided to open the space… to write. To allow something to flow. To give a chance for an idea to appear. To set in motion what I know I need to do: if I want to write, I then need to write.

That fact is so basic, it’s ridiculous.

But actually, what’s ridiculous is how many times I’ve kept myself from advancing, progressing, evolving… and sometimes just plainly having fun… because I’ve not opened the space to do the obvious.

“But what am I going to write about?”, the voice in my head says.

That I might not foresee. That I might not be clear about. That I might just need to discover.

But the action that reflects the intention is more fundamental. More fundamental.

Do you want to exercise? Then exercise.

Do you want to meditate? Then meditate.

Connect with someone? Then connect with someone.

Learn to code or take cool photos or vlog your life or whatever else you might desire to be skillful at? Then get on with learning.

Open the space for the action.

Set a block of time. Turn off distractions (hey, no notifications allowed!). Put yourself in front of that which represents the “space” in which you’ll do the action.

Is it about writing? Open the blank document, or get the black sheet of paper and hold the pen in your hand.

Is it about connecting with someone? Make the call. Arrange the encounter. Sit down in front of the other.

“But… but… I don’t know what I’ll say/write/create/do/express/do-with-that!”

So? So what?

Something will come through. Something will be felt in your heart or heard in your head. Something will appear. Something will be there to grab, to absorb, to do something with.

Meet the mystery of your intention. The mystery behind how it will unfold. Around what will come out of it.

But give yourself a chance.

Open the space.

Show up to your desire.

Let the flow arise.