Jim Kast-Keat is a writer, speaker, pastor, and pathological optimist. Congratulations on finding his blog. Ten points for you. To find out more, head over to jimkastkeat.com and start exploring.
Occasional Thoughts
I'm always thinking, and sometimes I'm even writing.
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Zen Winter
While the ideacus community is busy thinking of alternative names for the new iPad (you should help!), I have decided to focus my attention (and occasional thoughts) on something more practical: the cold.
Last night Jes and I were walking to Lemonjello's. This four block walk is my regular route to a cup of coffee. Only last night it was late. it was dark. And it was cold.Now you may not know this, but I'm not the biggest fan of cold. (Along with the perpetual gray dreariness, it's my least favorite part of winter. #boycottwinter) Maybe it's because the car was low on gas, maybe we were being intentional about exchanging a snowy footprint for a carbon footprint, or maybe we just wanted to spend a few extra minutes before we both hit homework mode; either way, we walked. And we shivered.I've been learning about feelings and emotion through Nonviolent Communication and spiritual gurus like Tich Nhat Han and Ekhart Tolle. My latest axiom I've held on to from these sources is this:I am not my feelings; I am the awareness behind my feelings.Happiness is what I feel; it is not what I am. Anger is what I feel; it is not what I am. The emotion is an uncontrolled response to a situation. I can become aware of my feeling, acknowledge it's existence, realize that it is neither good nor bad but simply is, and be more fully present with myself and the ever-present "now."Walking outside at night in low temperatures, I feel cold. But cold is not what I am. I am aware of this feeling, the biting pain on my ears. I realize my unconscious desire to shiver. And I can be present with this feeling, understanding my body to be just as much a part of me as my thoughts.And while the cold didn't change, something in me did. I stopped shivering. I was able to stand in place, talking with friends coming the other way. I stood at the corner and appreciated the fact that I was able to feel, even if I was feeling something as unpleasant as the biting West Michigan winter.Wherever you are, you can try it right now. What are you feeling? Hopeful? Disapointed? Happy? Angry? Tired? You are not your feeling and your feeling is not you. Rather you are the awareness behind your feelings. Hold them, recognize them, and continue to be fully you and nothing else.- 28 January 2010
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About Jim Kast-Keat
Jim Kast-Keat is a writer, speaker, pastor, and pathological optimist. Congratulations on finding his blog. Ten points for you. To find out more, head over to 
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