06/30/2020
For years, I struggled to feel happy or grateful or at peace in my day to day life.
Just the business of every day life was draining. The standard school week and work week was too much.
I think there is probably more than one person who can relate to these words. I believe as a society, we work too much, we do too much, we are afraid of missing out, or afraid of our children missing out.
Joy.
Contentment.
Peace.
Gratitude.
Fulfillment.
These are all cultivated on the inside. Success in life is often portrayed as the job you have, the money you make, the clothes you wear, the house you live in, the car you drive, etc.
There is nothing wrong in building a life that includes all the things you love.
But if you're so busy accomplishing, achieving, scheduling, accommodating, being the star employee, the stellar mom or dad, how can you hear what's in your heart, your mind, your soul?
Is self-reflection a priority?
Do you know what your values are?
Does your current life allow you to live the way you really want?
Are you grateful? Fulfilled? Joyful?
Viktor Frankl, a Jewish concentration camp survivor, neurologist and psychiatrist wrote 'Man's Search for Meaning'. It was a book that detailed his experiences in concentration camps and how different people fared.
This book changed my life. I first read it several years ago. Frankl wrote about how he was able to transcend his physical environment, the torture, the trauma, the violence of life in a concentration camp.
He had inner freedom and peace. I couldn't understand how I who was living a dream life, in comparison to Frankl's couldn't seem to cultivate internal peace and freedom.
Ultimately, it's a choice. A moment by moment, second by second choice. It's a practice of observing yourself, your thoughts, your patterns. It's learning how to interrupt your automatic thoughts and make a choice on how you want to show up.
T this point, it's taken years of self study, therapy, coaching, meditating, journaling, medication and health care. Some days the work is hard and I feel frustrated that I have 'to do so much' to stay even and healthy.
But honestly, it's my greatest and most important work.
🙏 @ Point Prim
