Knowing where you want to go is the first and most important step in getting there. However for too many of us, we are so “busy”, we often do not stop to question whether we are travelling in the right direction.
If we are not really clear on what we stand for, what we want from life, we may end up filling our life with what is mundane and the unimportant.
Time is our most precious commodity. However, many of us go through life feeling starved of it. Many people I interact with personally and professionally struggle daily and feel that that they do not have enough time in the world to get things done.
We often overlook the fact that what affects one is bound to affect us all even if we are on the other side of the earth. Also, as human beings we are hardwired to naturally live our lives wanting to connect with others, to be loved and to belong. Indeed, we are hardwired for connection. It is what gives us our lives meaning and purpose and makes us feel safe and secure.
We are taught in schools about intelligence and knowledge. But we are rarely taught about the type of intelligence that we need to develop to navigate through life and connect with other human beings in the most effective manner- emotional intelligence. This is an extremely important skill that is often overlooked.
Being kind to yourself is much more than stopping self judgement. It involves actively comforting yourself like you would a dear friend. It means that you allow yourself to create some space and stay with your pain when it arises and ask yourself “It is difficult for me right now. How can I help and care for myself at this moment?”
Our fast paced lives do not allow us to slow down and relish the pleasures of every day life. It is not conducive to noticing and enjoying the simple joys that are present in our lives only if we pay attention to them. Also, it is really easy to think nowadays in terms of – Who am I to enjoy when others are suffering?
As we all prepare to resume some kind of “normalcy” post these two months of lockdown, our future is fuzzier than ever. All we really know for sure is that many things will have changed when we reopen, some forever.
“Our life is what our thoughts make it” – Marcus Aurelius, philosopher In many ways, the life that we all…
By paying attention to what our bodies are trying to tell us (without judgement), we can learn much more than we can ever imagine- indeed, the messages and the mysteries that it holds can be life saving. Unfortunately, most modern societies do not really encourage this.
In times of uncertainty and chaos, it becomes very easy for us to comfort ourselves using food. We all do it from time to time especially when we are in need of comfort. However, it becomes an issue only if we are unaware of this and stuffing ourselves with food becomes our default coping mechanism.