I was staying in Küsnacht on Lake Zurich, Switzerland, enjoying some late summer warmth and decided to take a boat on the lake to Zurich, rather than the train or bus. Where I was staying had a landing jetty for the many passenger ferries that travel up and down this large lake; very convenient.

Küsnacht is where Carl Jung lived and is home, too, to the Jung Institute. The last time I visited was 2 years ago for the 75th anniversary. I wrote an article at the time of my visit then – I always enjoy returning. Such a lovely place, such a wonderful reminder for me to slow my pace, reflect on the teaching of Jung and the impact it has, still, on so many people worldwide. The impact it has on my clients.

Like so many people, I love travel by boat - it is especially wonderful when the water is calm and the sun is shining. On this day we were soon speeding off and my mind started to clear of the clutter that sometimes builds up and seems to get clogged in one’s mind. A useful reminder that, when taken more lightly, become, like the buildings on the shore, small dots on a distant horizon.

Yet how often do we take this approach to matters that seem big and important when close up, yet when we allow a little distance to form the size of the issue diminishes, as does the perceived importance. Which often is the vast majority of things, the important ones seem to remain in focus from the blur of this majority.

This is not a suggestion to step away from everything, so nothing seems to matter, or matter as much. It is more a case of allowing some things to become less dominant.

On this day, it was so wonderful to step aboard the boat and ease into a relaxed state, not taking myself so seriously. Enabling a little distance from the ‘shore’ of my list of things to do, to really let the important things stand out As I enjoyed a coffee, the view, the warm sun I made a few notes in my journal to capture them on paper rather than allow them to clutter my mind. Some were trivial, some seemingly important that later I dismissed as unimportant. Some were the important items that had been buried in the clutter of my mind.

Soon I was easing back into the pleasure of the moment and enjoying the journey.

A useful reminder that often one needs to allow some space for thoughts to sort, settle and surface…and a boat trip on a beautiful lake is a good way to do this.

My best wishes,

Peter