Transforming Discomfort into Comfort

When we find ourselves in any sort of distressing or uncomfortable circumstance in the kitchen, zen-cuisine offers a fresh perspective on how to look at and transform our situation. Imagine for a moment we are making breakfast for a house guest who is vegan and also celiac, and can’t digest the gluten in wheat, rye or barley products. We want to be a good host. Up early in the kitchen, making gluten-free vegan pancakes is our intention. We’ve heard that it’s a tricky process. Gluten-free  pancakes are notorious for sticking to the pan, or not really cooking properly; vegan pancakes often fall apart. We’re a bit intimidated, and afraid we won’t get the recipe right. Nervous energy starts to circulate in our body, and our mind spins out tales of possible disasters in the frying pan. We're uncomfortable, and stressed out.

If we pause for a moment before we begin to cook, we can center ourselves in our mindfulness practice. First, we acknowledge our discomfort. We recognize that these unpleasant feelings are not a necessary part of our meal preparation. They are a subtle layer of conditioning which provides a familiar trajectory for our habitual, usually negative but always unrealistic, thoughts to travel along. We know from past experience that this journey is one we don’t want to go on!  

Instead of trying to resolve the situation in any of the ways we would normally employ, like lining up all the recipe ingredients on the counter before beginning to make the pancakes, we explore a different approach.  We look inward, and touch our discomfort lightly, sensing where it manifests in our body. We breathe into these places, relaxing tension. Rather than ignoring what we are experiencing, pushing feelings and thoughts away, or pretending they aren’t real and important, we hold them in awareness. Now, take a moment to explore this awareness. See how awareness of discomfort opens us to see that beyond this awareness is a more expansive awareness. An awareness of our awareness! It's like a little bit of baking powder in the pancake batter, leavening our understanding of awareness.

As we experience discomfort directly, we discard our usual habit of embellishing a situation with ‘storytelling’. Each time we practice accepting and examining our discomfort, we open to knowing our mind more intimately.  Each cooking opportunity expands our understanding our ideas about the self, and the world around us in ways we may not have explored before. We simply stay present with the situation as it is.

In the kitchen, we look at the pancake recipe without judging our ability to prepare it. We simply read the recipe, and begin by mindfully following our breath into a place of calm abiding. We examine what’s arising in each moment as zen-cuisine practice shows us a small gap between our stressful thoughts. This enables us to see that our discomfort comes from our thinking. So we open a small space around our distress.  In this spaciousness, we discover the portal into a larger context. This more inclusive framework offers a new and fresh outlook on our experience. We realize that our uncomfortable reaction to cooking is in fact an opportunity: we are able to act from a wider, more expansive place.  Our heart and mind open with curiosity.

As our perspective changes, myriad possibilities for pancake-making arise.  We may have success or we may not. Who knows until we engage in the process? This shift not only alters our viewpoint, but also changes the focus of our activity. Instead of being concerned about failing at making the perfect gluten-free vegan pancakes, we center our attention on our intention to nourish and delight our friend with a flavorful, healthy meal. What we cherish is our relationship, not our perfection in the kitchen. With this wholesome purpose in mind, we discover our discomfort and distress transforming into feelings of calm and ease. Thoughts of friendliness and caring displace our discomforting thinking, and we move with confidence into the spacious serenity of zen-cuisine.  Happy cooking!

 For a recipe for delicious gluten-free vegan blueberry pancakes, visit Juicy Foods