I find myself wishing that today weren’t going to be unnaturally hot for so early in June.  And, immediately, I also notice that the fact that I have a preference for how the day will be opens up the possibility that I might engage the day with some struggle if I don’t stay aware of the fact that I want things to be different from how they actually are.  Becoming aware of my preference allows me to have a choice about my response.  I can either continue to be unhappy that the day will be hot, hot, hot when I’d rather have it been the gentle warmth of June as it has been, or I can engage the day as it is and allow whatever it brings to move through me with awareness rather than discontent.

My response to the weather report reminds me of how often we can get caught up in preferences without realizing that we actively want things to be different from how they actually are.  And, to have preferences that fly in the face of what’s unfolding in the present moment is a recipe for unnecessary distress, tension, struggle and upset.  If there is a chance of changing what is, that’s a different story.  Then, we can use our energy to see if it’s possible to make our preferences happen, as when we might want a particular kind of food and we find that the restaurant we’ve chosen doesn’t have it.  We can go somewhere else.  There are options.  But, when there’s no chance of changing what is, we have an opportunity to practice being in the flow and allowing ourselves to move through experience without struggle.

And so, for this week, I invite you to take some time to be aware of your preferences, especially when they are different from what’s happening in your life.  As you explore, or at least notice, your preferences, also notice how it feels to become aware of them.  Sometimes, you might notice that your body becomes tense when you’re connecting with a preference for something, because you may also feel that you won’t be able to have what you want, or you may become impatient that things aren’t the way you want them right now.  Or, you might find that noticing your preferences serves as encouragement to make some changes, or do something you’ve been meaning to do.  Our preferences can become signposts to show us what we want or need to do along the way, to achieve outcomes we seek.  If your preferences are achievable and positive for you, you might find that your body becomes energized, or perhaps relaxed, as you touch into something you’ve wanted to do, be, or have.

If you find that your preferences put you at odds with what is – and this is often the case for many of us – notice what happens if you allow yourself to momentarily suspend or actually let go of your preference and simply notice how things are in the present moment.  For example, you might imagine that your preference for quiet in the presence of noise you can’t stop is like a heavy mantle around your shoulders, weighing you down.  Notice what you experience if you imagine allowing that heavy mantle to drop to the ground, to simply drop away, as you accept that the noise is just going to be what it is until it’s over. Or, a wish that things be different from how they are may feel like a bird fluttering in your face, bothering you with thoughts of how things should be.  What happens if you allow that bird to flutter for a few more moments and then fly on by, leaving your mind clear of thoughts about how things should be different.

As with all the experiments, there are no right answers as to what to do with this one.  It’s just another opportunity to explore awareness and to become more familiar with how you move through the day . . . another opportunity to notice how your state of mind brings support and ease or burden and distress to the quality of your experience.