Enjoying Having
Enjoying Having
Recently, I became aware of the distinction between the feeling of "having" and the feeling of "getting".
I often want to have a nice feeling during the day. This comes from within. However, I noticed myself putting attention on the "getting" of the nice feeling. And then kind of ignoring the nice sensations once they showed up. As if I was ticking off a to-do list. Ok, got nice feeling; moving on.
Rather than attending to "what do I want?" I started focusing on "what do I have?"
And the darndest thing happened.
I started getting more of what I was enjoying already having. Huh.
It looks a little bit like gratitude, but not a practice per se. For me, when I have focused on a gratitude practice, it feels kind of forced, and I'm only doing it in order to feel good. Why not just skip to enjoyment?
It’s so nice to enjoy a nice feeling. Then the nice feeling grows the longer you enjoy it.
It's also starting with the feeling you have now and enjoying the fullness of it. Just enjoy feeling whatever you are feeling. Enjoy the anger. Enjoy the sadness. Enjoy the bittersweetness. Enjoy the happy. I found I then had a sensation I called "having". This feels solid and grounded. Like all my energy is with me and having a good time regardless of what is happening around me or whatever my thinking is happening to be doing.
The feeling of getting is more of a striving, and I can feel my energy leading out in front of me and a leaking feeling. Tension sits in my body when I think about getting something; relaxation sits in my body when I think about what I have.
Good news, we already are the entire energy of the Universe in a squishy package. You don't need to do anything or get anything to tune into this. It's a live wire of aliveness that zaps up and out and expands everything from the inside out. It's also the warm glow of a fire within.
Try on the experience of enjoying your energy and see what shows up for you.
I noticed the warm feeling was there for no reason
I noticed this warm feeling was there in a "non-enjoyable" situation. For example, a cold wind or rain rainstorm. Or when I was drenched to the bone with no umbrella and falling apart, soaked running shoes, while travelling with no other real shoes with me.
I have found time and again that if I enjoy what I have, I’ll get more of what I’m enjoying.
If I don’t enjoy it, I can let it go.
What is enjoying?
To me, it’s bringing my attention plus some love to something in a way that feels soft and gentle.
You can literally focus in this way on anything. Things you like. Things you don't like. Neutral things. Big things. Little things. Red things. Blue things.
After a day or so of just enjoying having, I noticed that I was enjoying the feeling I was in rather than the thing outside of me that I thought I was enjoying.
Enjoying the warmth in my chest and the relaxation in my shoulders rather than the sunshine and autumn colours.
Enjoying the sparkly fizz along my upper arms rather than the delicious cake I was eating.
Enjoying the light feeling in my feet rather than the walk along the trees I was taking.
Enjoyment lives in us. Not on the outside. If you shift the location or origin of the feeling of enjoyment, then you can have "enjoyment" or a nice feeling at any time.
Enjoy enjoying for the sake of enjoying.
With Love,
Sara Joy
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