Allowfulness

[OliDoyle]

A while back, I was looking for a word to encapsulate the delicate balance of this practice; that we simultaneously accept the world as it is while taking action to changing it. For me the word acceptance sounds like an effort ('I'm trying to accept it'), while the word surrender sounds like being stepped on.

One day, a word came up, and that word was 'Allowfulness'. I don't know where it came from, and I take no credit for it, but I love it as a way to describe this seeming paradox - that when you allow the world to be as it is, you become a positive agent for change. It is incredible that being totally allowful puts you in a better position to make change than resistance.

What do you think? And please feel free to invent more words, it's just language after all.

[JonW]

Welcome back Oli! You've been missed.
I'm liking "allowfulness" a lot. It sure tickles my scrittle.
Deccahondricondimally yours,
Jon, Hove

[OliDoyle]

Haha nice one Jon. Good to be back.

[Gareth]

Hi Oli, I second the welcome back!

You were the one that taught me that mindfulness was something normal, something for everyone. Not some esoteric practice limited to buddhists and psychotherapists, so it's really special for you to be around the place.

Personally, I have never had an issue with the word 'acceptance', but I see what you mean, many people think of it as being a doormat which couldn't be further from the truth. I'll have to admit the 'allowfullness' is pretty good too though.

[OliDoyle]

Cheers mate,
I like the idea - just allow the fullness of this moment. And that's it.

[rara]

Ignoringness - Ignoring anything else around and just focusing on one's own thing?

I'm on a train...and drunk loud people have just come on. I am not going to accept it...I'm not going to fight it. I'm just going to carry on writing and looking around this forum until we reach the end of the line

[OliDoyle]

Well played Rara, I like the word too. Ignore the distractions and the noise and just focus on what's important - this experience right now.

[JonW]

I used to get very irritated if I was sitting on a train, reading, and the people at my table started engaging in loud conversation. I used to allow it to ruin my journey. Now I tend to accept that the conversation will continue, not let it bother me, and enjoy the scenery. I figure I can read that book any time but that sunset I can see out of the window is strictly a one-off.

[rara]

These guys were looooud too.

Maybe not "ignore" though...it's quite a stern word on second thoughts.

Words suck. We should just "do" more.