This Dharma Thought is brought to you from Steve Allison-Bunnell of the Joining Rivers Sangha.
“Fake it ’til you make it” is how we are often encouraged to keep trying even when we lack confidence. But as reassuring as it might sound that no one is perfectly competent, it is ultimately exhausting to hide our authentic selves. For neurodiverse people, it can be devastating. Happily, one of the greatest fruits of mindfulness practice is genuine ease with the present, no matter what is going on around us. This week, a boy who had been in our camp program all day at the Science Center reflected on the exuberant chaos of kids working on a project and all clamoring for help. He told me, “You are my new favorite person! You are so chill even when all this stuff is going on around here.” It was a touching gift to hear that I had managed to hold the container all day, and that he had felt and noticed the calm I had been practicing to project. I don’t think I could have faked that if I had tried! When do you feel the ease of your inside and outside matching up? What helps you do that?