Summer Holiday Season
The power of Spontaneity
“You always have to be ready for any adverse situation.”
That was one of the main lessons I received growing up.
Not being prepared was almost a synonym for being irresponsible.
The problem, I discovered later, is that always trying to be prepared dims our ability to be spontaneous. It weakens the development of our intuition and focuses too much attention on our intellectual capacity, often at a price.
Now that it's holiday season in the northern hemisphere, I’d like to support that well-deserved vibe by talking about spontaneity.
How often do we return from holidays more tired than when we left?
We try not to miss anything. We overpack, over-plan, and end up doing more in a day than we normally would while working.
During a recent visit to Peru, a childhood friend shared a simple truth:
“Para descansar, dale atención y cariño a tu cuerpo.”
—To rest, give attention, and tender care to your body.
He didn’t say “stop thinking” or “clear your mind.”
So… how do I care for my body?
Be spontaneous.
Laugh.
Eat well.
Hydrate.
Sleep.
To me, spontaneity means letting go of restrictions and acting freely. It involves vulnerability, confidence, and bravery. These are important concepts to master.
Many people feel uncomfortable when someone behaves spontaneously, have you noticed?
Let’s just say spontaneity is the capacity to release unnecessary structures that make it difficult for us to care tenderly for our body and mind—for example, scheduling too many activities or holding on to excessive control.
So, for this summer season:
Plan for what matters.
Expect surprises.
Decide to simplify.Include lots of time for doing little.
Play with others.
Spark your imagination.
Enjoy nature.
What would you do differently on your holidays to be more spontaneous and care for your body and mind?
And if you must prepare for something…
Prepare to return rested and energized.
With love,
Jose.
Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.
— Agnes de Mille
I started reading Living Beautifully, with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chödrön. And the first chapters inspired me to write today’s post. It says that we suffer because we want to control, so I thought that the opposite is having no control, and being spontaneous.