Find Your Middle Ground

The Difference Between Restless and Resting

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awake at night

‘I know’ is the restless place for all beings.

‘I don’t know’ is the resting place for all beings.*

~ Mooji

The need to hold on to “knowing” keeps many of us from finding peace. We think knowing  is the answer, but it creates more restlessness.

It can become a never-ending quest for control and security. We create stories about this state to make it okay. We call it our personality or human nature.

It can appear as worrying about things beyond our control. For example: holding on to being right, trying to change others into our way of thinking and acting, striving to be perfect, looking for answers to problems that only exist in our mind, staying awake at night wondering what would make us happy, wishing others would make different choices in their lives …

Over time is becomes a habit that keeps feeding the insecure ego mind. The need to know increases fear and uncertainty.

Contentment comes from embracing the not knowing. It isn’t a simple or an easy transformation to make. Yet, when we accept that we don’t know and make room for it in all areas of our life, we create space for peace.

In surrendering to reality we find the freedom to be at rest with life.

Namaste

* Mooji. White Fire: Spiritual insights and teachings of advaita zen master Mooji (Kindle Locations 3306-3307). Mooji Media Publications. Kindle Edition.

31 responses to “The Difference Between Restless and Resting”

  1. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar
    Sue Dreamwalker

    The longer I live Val, I see myself surrendering more and more to not knowing.. Allowing what will be to be.. Its hard, at times, as we have preconceived ideas of how we should live and be.. But then I have to step back and think we are changing. Changing as a society, as a species and our Earth Mother herself is changing as she shapes herself into her own new role..
    What I am seeing more and more Val, is how society instead of moving forward, I see how we hang onto the Old..
    I see so much of what is being presented in our UK politics right now, we are going back to the policies of those who were in power in the 70’s being promised to capture the voting public..
    I found myself getting too, getting caught up in this ‘Restlessness’
    And instead, took myself out of it, to REST.. 🙂 and sure enough detachment so eases the Spirit..
    When you begin to understand, that what will be will be.. And there are no right or wrong roads, just experiences.. But again, to our human mind this is often difficult to comprehend when one sees suffering
    So I Live for the Now and keep going within the flow.. As I give thanks for the gifts given..
    Love and Blessings dear Val..
    Wishing you a perfect weekend..
    Sue ❤ ❤ 🙂

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for your kind and wise reflections Sue. There is clinging to the old happening everywhere. Here in the US, it goes back to the 1950’s where there was isolationism, anti communism and a Cold War to focus on.
      Like waves, we can’t help to move forward. Some waves will feel good, and then there will the ebb beyond it. Going with the flow, and trusting in the unknown seems to be a place I want to stay in. Right now, I too am a visitor the 😊💕🙏
      Have a great weekend Sue!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
      1. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar
        Sue Dreamwalker

        May we remain in our zones of flow and trusting Val.. 🙂 and thank you dear friend for that lovely reply xx

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  2. Hariod Brawn Avatar
    Hariod Brawn

    Or as Alan Watts called it, The Wisdom of Insecurity. H ❤

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Now that is juicy! Thank you Hariod for shining your light and wisdom 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. nrhatch Avatar
    nrhatch

    How refreshing the whinny of a pack horse fully unloaded! ~ Classic Haiku

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Love those koans and wisdom to stop us in our tracks! Thanks Nancy 💛

      Like

      Reply
  4. Paul Handover Avatar
    Paul Handover

    Val, thank you for your loving words following the death of Pharaoh. You and so many others wrote such beautiful tributes.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. D. Wallace Peach Avatar
    D. Wallace Peach

    It seems like a paradox, doesn’t it? But so true, Val. I like not knowing, but sometimes I don’t realize that I don’t know until I know a little more. Then there’s the aha moment and relief as the bigger picture of unknowing takes shape. Does that all make sense? Ha ha.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      It can be a conundrum too Diana. Hariod shared a link from Alan Watts about this is an earlier comment. I’m going to check our his perspective … and may or may not have more insight about it 😉

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  6. universalkindnessmusingsbytara Avatar
    universalkindnessmusingsbytara

    So true, and inspiring! ThanQ Val. Peace and Blessings. Tara

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks so much Tara 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Eliza Waters Avatar
    Eliza Waters

    Humbling and wise post, Val. So true, that ol’ ego tries really hard! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Eliza. It touched me deeply. The ego can be like the energizer bunny 🐰 sometimes!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Keith McArthur Avatar
    Keith McArthur

    Thanks Val! I needed this post today.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Keith 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    Great post, Val. Trying to know all of the answers is a straight path to exhaustion. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Hhmmm … in yoga, ignorance is the opposite of bliss. When we hold on to our ignorance and don’t open our eyes to what is new and unfolding, we stay stuck in habit. Bliss comes when we recognize our ignorance and open our mind and spirit to see more and let the unknown reveal itself.
      It’s so interesting when we look at phrases we have used in different contexts.
      Thank you Jill for your warm presence here 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Infinite Living Avatar
    Infinite Living

    I have found increasing peace with staying in the not knowing more and more. You hooked me to the post with the first 2 lines by Mooji and I loved your words that followed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you PD. Mooji tends to hook me every time … and pull me in a middle ground pause 💕

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Infinite Living Avatar
        Infinite Living

        You are welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  11. Carrie Cannady Avatar
    Carrie Cannady

    I love this distinction, Val. The difference between rest and restlessness. There is much to gained in the space of “I don’t know.” Thank for this wonderful and very powerful reminder for us all…especially now. 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Carrie 💛 reminders from an open heart support us all 💕🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Restless….. It’s Not Knowing – BRIC A BRAC Avatar
    Restless….. It’s Not Knowing – BRIC A BRAC

    […] inspiration from FindYourMiddleGround’s post “The Difference between Restless and Resting” I bring you my first humanities […]

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Anurag Avatar
    Anurag

    Woahh man!! Brilliant peace of writing. This blog is 💯💯💯❤.please visit my too it will be my pleasure that gr8 bloggers you visiting. But still dude you rock. 🙇🙇🙇🔥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Anura for being a great example of what I was writing about. Take time to breathe Dude and you will rock even more 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Anurag Avatar
        Anurag

        Hehe ty ma’am 😇

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  14. Mary Lou Avatar
    Mary Lou

    “Create space for peace” ❤ This goes along with the liminal space awareness I've been gathering recently. Thanks, Val!

    Me in the Middle of Week 7 Reflection ~ Grateful for Kindness

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Mary Lou 💛

      Like

      Reply
  15. cleyoblog Avatar
    cleyoblog

    Very true, I have often insisted on wanting to know things and the more the insistence catches up with me the more i shiver, shrink and shake.
    When i have not bothered, my emotions didn’t bother either.

    Like

    Reply
  16. Eddie Two Hawks Avatar
    Eddie Two Hawks

    It has not been said better Val. excellent post

    Like

    Reply

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● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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