Openess

We all know someone who is competely closed off to life, stuck in their ways, unable to bend even when it is clear that their path is going nowhere.



      There are things we like a lot, others not so much.  Sometimes we react to events in one way, other times we behave differently. These are all part of what we are, they come and go in our lives, and that's good.  The problem begins when we start to identify with the way we live, when we start to put labels on ourselves.  You hear it all the time, people mixing up their actions and penchants with who they are. "I'm a no nonsense type of person. I'm stubborn. I don't take anything from anyone. I'm happy go lucky." On it goes. Labels, pigeon holes, categories.  Here's the thing. Behind these identities there is nothing solid, because they are simply ideas we have made up in order to protect ourselves from being real. When we place a stamp on ourselves we have no need to allow anything new into our repertiore, we can simply carry on the way we always have, whether it serves us or not.  The more we identify with all of this, the less we are able to accept new ideas or change the way we look at the world. Soon we are completely closed off, insulated from the flow of life.  How can you possibly deal with young children when you are in this state? Think of some of the teachers you have had and you will easily be able to pick out the ones to whom I am refering. And what did they have to offer to their kids? Nothing, because that's what all that pretense amounts to. Nothing. Getting back to where we started, we all have preferences and biases. Nothing wrong with that. But, remember they are only appearances. They come and go with the flow of life. As long as that is where you leave them, then life will flow course through you as if you were made of mist, but once you start to identify, even cherish these things, you will become cold, frozen, and nothing will be able to pierce your armour. Perhaps you will be safe from life. But what do you have to offer your students, or anyone at this point?