Are you sometimes doing too many things you don't want to do? Too much time with the news, managing the household, doing errands, sitting in traffic? Today I spent an hour sorting through a financial issue and I'm lucky it didn't take longer. We've never been masters of our time. And that doesn't even count work. Or, to whine a bit more, it doesn't count the state of American politics or, even bigger, the health of our family and friends. I wonder if you need help as often as I do.
One way to face hard times is to rely on our faith. I mention that first because sometimes we may only remember to let God enfold us when all else has failed. We forget that faith is not just for when one of us is at the hospice door. I usually remember to give my fears to God somewhere later along the worry continuum than first. To ask God to help, save, comfort and defend whoever I am worried about, including me.
I also have a book that teaches mindfulness-based compassionate living. Its called A Book That Takes Its Time, An Unhurried Adventure in Creative Mindfulness (flowmagazine.com; Workman.com), but there are many. Mine is the kind of mindfulness workbook you can dip into and it seems to respond to whatever mood you bring to it. If you happen to be sad, as I have been from time to time lately, it tends to help. Knowing why you're sad or anxious or whatever emotion needs your attention, can mitigate those feelings, let them pass as feelings always do.
The last chapter in this thoughtful book is called "Time to be Kind." Most of my marginalia is in this chapter, jottings and underlines. Who can't learn more about when and how to be kinder? One person who needs kindness is ourself. Experts say that more compassion, both for self and others, makes us worry less and makes us happier. Compassion isn't judgment; maybe it's the opposite. But for sure it's listening. If we're not sleeping well or can't concentrate, we might need an emotional rebalance. We might need to make our world smaller (stay home, garden and cook, be tender . . . ) or larger (spend more time with others who also need help, tell a friend how we're feeling, be tender . . . ). Only listening to our bodies will let us know which. Most of us are strong enough not only to listen to ourselves, but also give this gift to someone else.
We know that life is a balance of highs and lows, joys and griefs. We have ourselves and each-other. We have today. We have a body to temporarily house our soul which is ever-lasting. We have God and our faith. This isn't scarcity, this is abundance.
There's a mantra that to me goes well with my faith (or yours or none). I don't know if I read it or thought of it myself, but it seems to complement our quest to live with kindness and compassion. Just words to bring us back from the anxiety that floats in, under and around us these days. The mantra is Seek, Believe, Trust, Hope. It's a reminder to do just that: seek (breathe), believe (breathe), trust(breathe), hope (breathe).
Thank you for listening.
Nina Naomi
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