In the words of one of my favorites, Katherine Hepburn: “Life’s hard. After all, it kills you.” How right she is!
Life is hard. It’s fraught with disappointments. People can be cruel, sometimes hurting us without even realizing that they are, while others are fully aware of their intentions. Work can be stressful, no matter what your profession. Family rarely mirrors ‘Leave It To Beaver.’ We can become so busy that we find ourselves going through the motions of life, yet not actually ‘living.’
We think it’s a sign of strength and valor to push through, rather than step back, because what we may need most is to make time to stop – to check-in with ourselves, tap into what’s working and what’s not, then find ways to resolve and course correct to continue on.
Yet many don’t want to do this. They claim they’re fine. They change the subject if a shared conversation threatens their perceived emotional, mental, and spiritual hemostasis rather than be honest – with others is one thing, yet with themselves, is another. We must be honest with ourselves to live authentically – and not waste our time here, only to wake-up when it’s too late.
And more often than not, they’re afraid to look inside. Afraid to make the time and do the work for countless reasons – but this is a blog post, thus I’ll keep it brief. To do so, is tough work and not for the faint of heart. Yet don’t underestimate the strength of your heart – or mind. And never discard your soul, an intuition and guidance that is second to none.
As for me, I’ve been off balance for quite some time now, riding a roller coaster of highs and lows. It’s not something I can put my finger on, yet I carry it with me every day. Buddhists call it monkey mind – when your thoughts jump from one, to the other, and another, and so on. I can hyper focus at work, no problem at all, yet the overthinking and sense of disarray on the personal side is palpable. It’s present, both distracting and annoying.
It may be middle-age, post-menopause, and the vast array of hormonal changes that accompany these years. Or it may be a life shift, also known as a ‘lifequake,’ signaling major change is on the horizon – not necessarily in the physical world, but in the interior world. A release of the past. Movement away from toxic patterns. Heightened awareness. Healing. Liberation. There are many ‘events’ I could elaborate on – not now.
Tonight, I attended a meditation workshop. I’d succeeded at meditation for a brief period of time years back and, after going through the crazy motions of life for too long, I made a conscious decision to take action and try it again.
I recognized a deep seated need to find something that could bring me back to the present. To tap back into my soul and quiet the noise in my mind. So I stepped out to meditate.
Hold please while I find my zen.
For those who dismiss spiritual, metaphysical and new age alternatives, I encourage you to research and learn. For those of any religious denomination, you can be a person of deep faith who loves God and the Lord Jesus while incorporating elements of other practices. You can set intentions, consult Tarot cards, work crystals, light cleansing candles, and meditate. You can seek answers from above, ground yourself in the earth, and follow the lunar cycles.
My faith is deep and my God is true. Whether I attend Mass or not, He is with me and when I kneel to pray morning and night, those moments stay with me through the day. My Wiccan rituals and beliefs are weaved in, along with other spiritual offerings.
What did 1-1/2hours of meditation with a group offer me? Focus. Dedicated time to put responsibilities aside without distraction. An opportunity to entertain my thoughts, then choose which to consider and which to dismiss. And clarity – I left the session with a clear head, an open heart, and increased energy. Though my family chuckles and pokes fun at ‘me,’ the self-actualized one is typically the one holding it altogether. Food for thought. Laugh if you wish but I invite you to try it. It’s a practice, not necessarily a one-time success, and may be enough to shift your perspective.
Put it all on hold – and go find your zen – be blessed. Namaste.
Do what works for you, Erin.. do not rely on others, it’s okay to love yourself. You really are loved, admired and respected by me and so many others without the fanfare.ommmmm!