emotionalfitness Mastering The Madness In Honor of The Simple Life
By Kathleen Noone
In this busy world, with very busy people, doing very busy things, where is our centering line? Where is that place in each of us that finds peace, home, breath, and a place to live quietly? That is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves. It takes an authentic heart to answer this truthfully. By that I mean a willingness to examine what is keeping us hooked into unhealthy situations, and where stress is showing up in our lives. We need to be brutally honest about our relationship to everything in our lives – work, significant others, friends, surroundings and ourselves.
Anything you bounce off of in life is a relationship. As I’ve stated in previous articles, “The issue is not the issue, it is our relationship to the issue that is the issue.” The only one we have dominion over is ourselves. So we need to find a place in our day to tend to ourselves, make what we need as important as everything and everybody else.
What is at stake is our health and wellbeing: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Now maybe this can only be a two-minute-long deep breathing moment, or a five-minute break. That’s a good place to start. Keep it simple. Think in terms of a simple first step that will give you a hint as to what it’s like to feel better, happier and healthier. For me, there’s a great little health food store on 9th Avenue that makes wonderful fresh vegetable juice.
The simple act of stopping by there on my way home to get my veggie drink, is good for my body. I feel better, and I give myself a treat that tastes good. It is a simple small act that impresses into my subconscious that I like doing good things for myself. The subconscious does not differentiate between fantasy and reality. I’d rather be feeding myself things that support me than not. The results are a better life.
Experiment for yourself. Ask yourself, “What can I do to relieve pressure, or have a better relationship, or ease my time constraints?” Whatever your issue, ask a simple question of your own design and then trust your simple answer. Invite yourself into a more gracious way of living. Allow for joy in your day. Have a good laugh with a friend. Give yourself permission to put into better perspective the things that no longer nurture, give support or add kindness to your day.
Eventually allow yourself to let go of those things that no longer serve you well. This is your life. It is not a rehearsal. It is your life. As Chick Corea said, “I searched through rebellion, drugs, diet, mysticism, religion, intellectualism, and much more, only to find that truth is basically simple and feels good, clear and right.” This month I invite you into simple acts of kindness for yourself. I invite you into a more truthful way of being with yourself, all done simply. Have a loving month!
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