I dwell in possibility.
When the going gets tough, as it seems to on a regular basis for most of us, what can we do to restore some sense of normalcy to our lives? The kind of major and unrelenting changes we live with – terror alerts, 24/7 schedules, corporate mergers, downsizing – wreak havoc with us, with our stability and our ability to respond effectively to everyday matters. And they challenge us to become aware of what really matters. I am often asked to do presentations on dealing with change. As I wondered about what I might write that would contribute to your ability to weather current challenges, I am reminded of a strategy I recommend in those talks. Namely, create islands of serenity to provide a safe harbor in the storms of life. Exactly what is an island of serenity? I can sum it up in two words: comforting rituals. I am not talking about the mind-numbing foolish consistencies Thoreau lambasted as the hobgoblins of little minds. I am referring to those daily, weekly and monthly routines providing a sense of grounding, centeredness and peace in the midst of chaos. A friend and I were discussing how he could buffer himself from some of the dramatic fallout he was experiencing in his business as a retirement financial strategist. I asked him what he could do to sustain himself, to refuel, to catch his emotional breath. His answer: spend time alone walking the beach, which he had not done in years. When I next spoke to him, he was calm, centered and relaxed. You might not have a beach to walk on but life does not require a beach. Life requires mindfulness about living and an awareness of the power of rituals to nurture and sustain. We need to devote extra care and attention to the seemingly mundane events on the course of living. Personal rituals make you a poet and creating rituals requires an instinct of what you like. Pay attention to what brings you a sense of joy, centeredness and calm. Do you garden? Then get out and dig. Have you gotten out of the habit of meditating or exercising even though you know how good you feel when completed? Then get back to developing yourself. Find ways to inject serenity into your commute to and from the office, or into the simple act of getting ready for work. As you build your inner well of serenity you will be better prepared to withstand the outside storms coming at us fast and furious. Begin to enjoy the simple acts of life more deeply. As Thoreau wrote from his sanctuary at Walden Pond, “living is so dear.” So dear indeed! Ultimately we all have choices. Choose some time each day when serenity, not insanity, is your watchword.
0 Comments
|
AuthorMusings from Gammon Irons. To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind - this is a choice which is possible for us all; and surely a good haven to sail. Archives
February 2020
Categories
All
|