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Having a beginner’s mind also allows us to develop parts of ourselves we never dreamed we had, like waking up a sleeping giant within. Recently I attended a stunning voice concert of a woman in her thirties. Six years previously, she had casually gone for a few voice lessons after having difficulty singing the high notes in her church choir. Her teacher, astounded by the lovely quality of her singing, referred her to a local professor who, after a few lessons, suggested she apply to study at the university. Three years later, degree in hand, she left to study abroad and is now building a career as a professional singer. You never know what gifts are roaming around inside you.

There’s an expression, “God is in the details.” As any artist or creative person knows, a beautiful product is the result of talent, practice, careful attention to details, and diligence. But likewise, creativity also flows from letting go of all these things and being in the experience, in an egoless energy field of delight and happiness.

EXERCISE:

Experience Beginner’s Mind

Recall a time where you felt deeply engaged in an activity and time passed either very quickly or seemed to slow down. Notice how your body feels when you focus on this memory. Stay focused on the feelings and let the memory fade away.

Beginner’s Mind Question. (Also known as the Quantum Question by Stephen Wolinsky.) For a momentary experience of Zen mind, beginner’s mind, ask yourself the following question—read it very slowly, imagining you let go of memory and mind. “Without language, memory, mind, interpretations, or expectations what is . . . happiness?”

What happens? If you truly have stepped beyond language, memory, and so on, you will feel a momentary blankness or void. Let yourself fall into it. Float in it. Then use the same question substituting other words such as guilt, shame, joy, love, anger, and goodness for happiness.

Over the course of a day observe as you move between a relaxed mind—beginner’s mind—and when you’re operating with your ego—tense and grasping. Notice thoughts and body sensations.

13. Take the Journey of a Thousand Steps: Do One Small Thing

What typifies people who don’t lose heart or get depressed, even in spite of a challenging life, is that they can focus on simple, small things that can be done on a daily basis. Typically they do not dwell on the difficulty of their situation. As Helen told me, “I was single, parenting three children, separated from my husband, going to school, and living on a small income. But I never wanted the children to feel bad, so I thoughts of lots of little ways to make life fun, interesting, and keep us close.”

It could be something as simple as buying one flower for the dining table, a child’s bar of soap with a pleasing scent, snuggling up and reading to the children (and not stopping to answer the phone), hanging a pretty scarf over the corner of a picture, having a cup of hot chocolate, or going out to look at the stars. It could also involve learning or developing a passionate interest in something like drawing, reading, or teaching.

Buddhism is about living now, about the quality, peace, and beauty of every day, about breathing life into the moment. This does not require a lot of money. Just creating one little spark can energize your cells and create a shift inside. And if we do it often, it adds up to significant change.

The Butterfly Effect, often spoken of in Buddhist circles, suggests that every thought, every act, even as tiny as the wings of a butterfly, sets off a vibration that is felt around the world. Whatever you do matters.

Try some of these suggestions for showing up for life:

Start singing around the house . . . or chant Om.

Talk with someone at a checkout stand.

Call, go visit, or send a card to someone who is lonely or ill and wish them the best.

Pick out a bright or strong paint color and get a friend to help you paint an accent wall in your living space.

Go shopping with a friend and try on clothes you thought you would never wear.