Recently, in my Recording and Listening practice, the Mentor encouraged me to explore how I set up my daily schedule. Through R/Ling, I discovered a clear and strong intention to incorporate daily practices that care for my heart and well being: meditation, healthy eating, exercise, rest, and social connection.  I also added in sessions for work and home care. 

I learned that R/Ling with the Mentor to set up the next day's schedule assisted me in not getting lost in the "shoulds," "oughts" and "have-to’s" that conditioning would have me defer to while organizing my day.

I have found great value and support in using R/L with scheduling throughout the day, as well.  For example, I use a kitchen timer to define a work period as 50 minutes. At the conclusion of a work period, I insert five minutes of R/L to reflect on whether actions during the work session matched initial intentions. These brief R/L sessions provide an immediate reality check: am I giving my attention to life right here, right now, in alignment with intention?  Or, am I giving my attention to a conversation with egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate regarding how I'm doing or what else I “should” be doing?

Recording and Listening at these task junctures also provides an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the human who is committed to being present to her life with joy, gratitude, and enthusiasm. In a given day, there are generally several such work periods.

R/L on scheduling also provides a great opportunity to practice compassion. When I was unable to keep to the schedule, egocentric karmic conditioning would jump in with judgment and beatings.  The immediacy of egocentric karmic conditioning’s attacks demonstrated how it is always lurking close by, waiting for any opportunity to steal my attention and energy. Integrating brief periods of R/L into my daily schedule, including during transitions from one task to the next, allowed me to closely watch egocentric karmic conditioning’s efforts to attack and distract me. 

With R/L, I could catch egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate in the act and return attention to the moment and conscious, compassionate awareness. Regular R/L also decreases the amount of time that conditioning is able to keep me unconscious. 

Whether in the service of scheduling or anything else, regular R/L supports holding the human in compassion and appreciation for her commitment and efforts to choose Life in each moment.  Picking up the recorder is such a simple, yet profoundly transformative act!

Gassho.
 

Do you have a favorite R/L insight, idea, or practice tool? We’d love to hear it! Send us your favorite quick tip (75 words or less) or submit your idea for a blog post.