Little life lessons
In light of what’s happening in the world right now, I thought i’d list a collection of lessons i’ve learnt from different books i’ve read, people i’ve met, teachers i’ve worked with and those gained through life experiences. I refer back to these often & find that they support my mental health and overall wellbeing.
All feelings are welcome.
It’s ok to have negative feelings. It’s ok to feel sad or angry. Allow yourself a broad array of emotions. The idea that our thoughts manifest our reality is absurd…this would mean every minute of our lives is a roller coaster ride of events. Toxic positivity is detrimental to our mental health. It’s a method of avoidance, covering up our discomfort with inauthenticity. The “bad” feelings we have are often a gateway to deeper healing. I am not recommending festering in negativity, but simply observing all emotions that arise, with curiosity, allowing them to fall away naturally.
Acceptance.
Whatever is happening in your life, whether it be this lockdown or a relationship that is no longer serving you, the suffering is in a lack of acceptance of what is. This doesn’t mean you can’t make shifts towards the life that you desire. By accepting things as they are and sitting in the peaceful space you’ve created, a clarity is created from the calmness of your mind. This allows you to decide and take action from an intuitive place, rather than allowing fear to guide you. And accepting yourself, as you are, is a beautiful gift of self love.
Let go of expectation.
The people I know that suffer the most, are the ones that place unrealistic expectations on themselves, their lives and the people around them. I know this all too well, since high expectations in my twenties led me to burn out. One thing is for certain - expectations are the creator of disappointment. When you’re expecting something, your focus is on the future and therefore you lack presence. You also give up your power by having external conditions for your happiness. Take your power back and create your own joy!
Stop comparing.
Comparison is the opposite of contentment. It is a way of escaping reality and what we do have in our lives by placing focus on what we don’t. With social media, scrolling through pages of airbrushed faces has become a past time for many people. What we need to remind ourselves is that none of it is real, it is all an illusion. Remove those accounts that don’t feel real, and work towards discovering your truth, living authentically and being surrounded by a community of open and like minded people.
Everything is Impermanent.
The only things we know for certain are that we are all gonna die and that life is an ever changing flux. I think this lockdown is the ultimate lesson of impermanence. When we attach to the way things are..our youthful glow, old friendships, jobs, what happens when they change? We suffer. Rigidity is held in our bodies, as muscle tension and tightness. Letting go of control, surrendering, becoming more flexible and fluid means you might be able to deal more easily with the curve balls life throws at you.
Listen to your intuition.
Stop denying those little sparks of feeling…you know the ones, that lead you to go out for a walk in the rain or read a book you never thought you would. Don’t reject that heaviness that comes over you when you’re around certain people or places. Listen to the wisdom of your soul, connect more strongly with your feelings and intuition. It doesn't need to make “sense” for it to be right.
Be Here Now.
Our minds are designed to be noisy, to take us away from the now. We long for how things used to be, mourning our loss. Or we think about what the future holds and feel anxious due to uncertainty or the possibility that we won’t achieve our dreams. The two practices that help me anchor myself in the present are daily gratitude and meditation. When you’re grateful for what you have, you’re less likely to be searching for bigger better things or reminiscing the past. And when you take some time to go inward, be with your bodily sensations and breath, the background chatter dampens. You become more present.
Take what you like from this list. And let me know your thoughts x