Lunar New Year 

Happy Lunar New Year of the Metal Ox! 

Growing up, my family’s lunar new year rituals were all about taking the opportunity to begin anew & we would take extra care to clear out the old cobwebs & clean the house together. The intention is to start the new year with freshness. 

Now, the lunar new year is a reminder for me to take the opportunity to practice inviting freshness both outside & within. 

One foundational life-affirming attitude in Mindfulness practice is to adopt a Beginner’s Mind. 

Most of the time, we are on autopilot, our experiences filtered & shaped by past experiences, beliefs, biases & values. 

Cultivating a Beginner’s Mind is about remembering to be with experience with freshness, no matter how familiar or mundane it might be. Each moment is a new moment, worthy of our full attention & curiosity.

Having a beginner’s mind means being open, investigative & seeing things as though for the first time. Widening the aperture of our perspective beyond our usual perceptions, we are more receptive to new possibilities where we might otherwise be stuck in a rut. 

Stepping out of our ‘expertise’ can open doors to so much discovery & the ordinary can be extraordinary. A beginner’s mind allows us to really see the richness of the present moment.

Experiment! Try practicing Beginner’s Mind in your daily life & see what you notice.

Here’s how:

The next time you’re with someone familiar to you, ask yourself if you’re seeing them with fresh eyes, as they really are. Or are you seeing a reflection of your own thoughts about this person? You could try this with a friend, colleague, partner, family member, or even pet. 

What happens when you look at the sky or ocean, a cloud, tree, or rock with the same wonder & curiosity that you would have you never seen anything like it before? 

You could also try it with a problem. Are you seeing things as they really are, or through a veil of habitual thoughts & opinions? What else is actually available to be seen?

For more info on Mindfulness programs go to www.mindfulnessforfertility.com