Making the most of every moment

HEALTH MATTERS: In life, there is pain, change and unpredictability, not all of which we can control

Is simplicity possible in the modern workplace? Can we enjoy calm simplicity of mind, body and heart in a complex life? And does our fear of having nothing or being no one lead us to trying to grasp the unattainable, preserve the changing and secure the unpredictable?

Simplicity involves looking first at the quality of life we enjoy or seek. Complexity lies less in job deadlines, roles and work projects than in our relationships to them.

"The only moment that offers the possibility of transformation and simplicity is this moment," says Christina Feldman in her book The Buddhist Path to Simplicity.

Simplicity is attainable right now, doing what we do, working where we are, being present in this very moment. What is preoccupying you right now? What is burdening you?

"Each encounter, event and moment is a mirror that reflects our reactions, fears, longings and stories. When we encounter another person, in that moment we also meet ourselves in our thoughts, feelings and responses. The present moment we are in offers everything we need to discover the deepest serenity and most profound simplicity. There is not a better moment, a more perfect moment for us to awaken and uncover the immediacy and well-being we long for," says Feldman.

Be attentive to your present concerns, worries and fears. Accept that in the universal story of life, there is joy and pain, change and unpredictability, not all of which is under our control.

"Simplicity will not be found in trying to mould life to comply with our desires and expectations. The events and circumstances of our world feel no obligation to conform to our expectations."

By accepting each moment as it is - rather than being caught up in what should be - we can feel, rather than escape from or deny, our fear and grief. We experience simplicity when our inner world rhymes with the changes and unpredictability of our life and work.

"Where does simplicity lie in this moment?" We can use this question posed by Feldman like a mantra whether in the midst of screaming deadlines or in moments of silent recollection. Just asking the question in an unforced way can guide us through all manner of complexities and uncertainties.

"Listen to the responses that arise within you. The release from complexity, the peace and calmness we seek for, will be found within those responses," she proposes.

The workplace can be a place of renunciation. We may be passed over for promotion, face redundancy or fail to have our best efforts acknowledged. If simplicity is living in harmony with the present moment, renunciation is about letting go of our need to accumulate or rely on what can crumble.

Driven by the fear of having nothing and being no one, "we try to grasp the ungraspable, preserve the changing, secure the unpredictable and guarantee the unknowable. It is an act of great kindness to learn how to let go in this life, to be with what is, to harmonise ourselves with life's inevitable changes and open up to the mystery of the unknown."

Renunciation is the companion of simplicity. Craving, holding and possessiveness bring complexity and confusion, while renunciation gives birth to joy, simplicity and freedom.

Nor is the paradigm of personal productivity all it's made out to be. Stillness, simplicity, intimacy and happiness provide an alternative paradigm. At a time of change in any workplace, Feldman's advice is sound: "The times when we feel most discontented are the times when our minds flee most readily to the past or future in search of guarantees and safety."

Albert Einstein wrote: "Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." What would it be like to believe that right now you have what you need? What would it be like to live this moment as if there is nothing missing? What would it be like living this moment without feeling anxious to hold what you have and protect yourself from loss?

Feldman asks: "The choice seems simple: do I choose to make fear my companion in life or do I choose to live with trust and skilful means? We believe that it is difficult to let go but, in truth, it is much more difficult and painful to hold and grasp. . . Each moment we let go, we embody freedom and follow the pathway of happiness. It is a present moment practice; every moment is the right moment to learn how to let go."