My friend asked me what I think openness means to me, which I found difficult to think about at first. I eventually decided to write her a response and thought I would share it on here. It would be good to hear any thoughts you have!
I think openness comes almost as an effect of being less attached to "the story"; past or possible future interpretations or holdings of how things are, outcomes or feelings and emotions that come with a particular subject. When we are not clouded by these things we can think, act, express and be with more reality and integrity. And sometimes openness might mean acting against the norm or rejecting certain boundaries/constraints in the form of society's neatly woven tapestry of conformities, formalities, concepts or expectations that we abide by or we're concerned about. This 'tapestry' can be one of the bricks to the wall that the ego builds to protect itself.
Mystery is presented to us in every moment. It's possible that part of the human conditition is that we habitually with increasing intensity numb ourselves to this mystery. Recently I have been thinking about this and how opening to the mystery or to the present can support my life in so many ways. What is it like to imagine in this moment that I had just been born, to see my first colours, hear sounds etc? You don't need to go as far as that to experience mystery, but it's not far from reality. I think there is little difference between being born and the present moment being born. It is simply a new experience; a cloud formation we have never seen before; a chance to feel a pain from the past as not pain, or as a strange feeling. So in response to the mystery I am able to become less concerned about "what if...?!" and more inspired to be open, to be generous of myself and my 'contents' with others.
What I actually get out of being more open, I am just exploring. I feel it might build on a kind of certainty in self-expression, a trust in my own expression of being and experience. Now I'm started I could probably go on more, but I think I'll leave it there. If I get any lightbulbs I'll add them later.
A couple of new songs to check out: The Gardner by The Tallest Man On Earth (from Shallow Grave below) and Vetiver - The Swimming Song (A Loudon Wainwright cover from Thing of The Past) but I couldn't find that online!
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