Learning To Follow

Learning To Follow When we approach children with the awareness that they can teach us, we automatically become more present ourselves. As grown-ups, we often approach children with ideas about what we can teach them about this life to which they have so recently arrived. It's true that we have important information to convey, but children are here to teach us just as much as we are here to teach them. They are so new to the world and far less burdened with preconceived notions about the people, situations, and objects they encounter. They do not avoid people on the basis of appearance, nor do they regard shoes as having only one function. They can be fascinated for half an hour with a pot and a lid, and they are utterly unself-conscious in their emotional expressions. They live their lives fully immersed in the present moment, seeing everything with the open-mindedness born of unknowing. This enables them to inhabit a state of spontaneity, curiosity, and pure excitement about the world that we, as adults, have a hard time accessing. Yet almost every spiritual path calls us to rediscover this way of seeing. In this sense, children are truly our gurus. When we approach children with the awareness that they are our teachers, we automatically become more present ourselves. We have to be more present when we follow, looking and listening, responding to their lead. We don't lapse so easily into the role of the director of activities, surrendering instead to having no agenda at all. As we allow our children to determine the flow of play, they pull us deeper into the mystery of the present moment. In this magical place, we become innocent again, not knowing what will happen next and remembering how to let go and flow. Since we must also embody the role of loving guide to our children, they teach us how to transition gracefully from following to leading and back again. In doing so, we learn to dance with our children in the present moment, shifting and adjusting as we direct the flow from pretending to be kittens wearing shoes on our heads to making sure everyone is fed and bathed. [PRINT]( [SAVE]( [DISCUSS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- DailyOM Course Spotlight [Beneficial Stretches for the Inflexible]( by Stefanie Turner If executed correctly, taking the time to stretch can be life changing. And, everyone can benefit from being more limber and increasing their range of movement. With this highly effective 14-day course anyone can become more flexible, regardless of their fitness level or ability. You will learn how to properly stretch, using a variety of methods to heal, protect, and strengthen you entire body. By the end, you will have better posture and be able to move with greater ease. [Learn More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 DailyOM Courses 1. [Anti-Aging Face Yoga]( 2. [21 Day Plant-Based Plan for a Lighter, Happier YOU!]( 3. [A Year of Writing to Uncover the Authentic Self]( 4. [Shedding Your Menopausal Middle in 10 Days]( 5. [No Sit-Up Abs Workout]( 6. [The 2 Week Fascia Miracle]( 7. [Aging Gracefully with Ballet]( 8. [Chair Yoga for Healing, Strength and Mobility]( 9. [5 Week Kundalini Yoga for Chakras]( 10. [Heal Your Soul by Letting Go of Emotional Addiction]( New Courses > [More Courses]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Home]( | [Inspiration]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( | [Gift Shop]() [Email Settings]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help/FAQ]( © 2019 DailyOM - All Rights Reserved No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission. Subscribed as {NAME}[at]gmail.com (1276706) [1]