Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives; very few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of time ~ Voltaire
I’m writing from Costa Rica on the last day of a little yoga immersion, perfect time to step out for a second as I had allowed myself to be affected by life’s passing dramas. I sometimes loose my footing, my thinking gets the best of me, my heart will shatter into a million different pieces because I think I’ve made a wrong decision or taken a wrong turn on the road to happy destiny.
There are times in my and I’m sure in all of our lives were we feel overwhelmed, limited or even consumed by sadness. It usually occurs when we are conflicted with a situation, a person or afraid of future consequences paralyzing our state of mind. We see limitation - not possibility.
When I find myself in that place I’ve noticed my mind will immediately begins an endless search for solution or ways to numb the heart break or escape the situation. I have however also learned to just allow it because I find there is more love in a broken heart. It’s soft and vulnerable, kind and compassionate - a broken heart has a far greater capacity for happiness than a rigid shell.
Life can be a roller coaster - one day you’re up, one day you’re down, or even upside down. One day you feel great about yourself and the next day like a complete failure. One day people love you, the next day you’re the target of their anger. The beauty of the human condition, an involuntary flux of emotion as a reaction to our perception of the mortal world which surrounds us. It totally happens to all of us and none of us on this ride alone. But If you play it right - the ups and downs can be super fun. You need two main ingredients:
- playful state of mind
- playmates
We’re not in this alone. Why not collectively raise ourselves above the numbness of time?
I think all too often we are afraid of loosing the little that we have. Making decision based on fear which will inevitably lead us to more loss or dissatisfaction. We feel like we’re riding in circles and we wonder why we can find happiness, desperately trying to keep the ride on an even keel, creating an illusion of stability - numb to what is really going on.
Honestly, heart breaks, break downs, any form of psychic pain are much undervalued forms of break throughs and corner stones of great opportunities and substantial change.....No doubt about it. Pain is nothing we want to run away from. Just like physical pain - it's a sign we are going in the wrong direction or are not rising to our potential. Can we just get real here for a second? Be honest with yourself - is there an area in your life where you feel this silent longing in your heart? An area where you are playing it small? Are you going after what you are really want to go after? Why not? And why do you think if it effects you it doesn’t effect others?
We are all part of a collective conscious so as a spiritual being it is important to know what effects me - directly or indirectly effects everyone. Therefore it is my responsibility to the collective to make the most of my life, keep my thinking on a higher plane, develop an equanimity of mind, keep my heart soft and compassionate and work in an environment supporting these notions. - No excuses. A spiritual lifestyle is self love directed towards others. We are all interconnected.
I think it is silly to think we are on spiritual journey that does not address the pain of others as well as the economic conditions that strangle man. I'm annoyed with the idea of the spiritual path that is merely a new form of escapism, a new form of narcissism: Removing yourself from life, obsession with the intricate makings of your own mind, avoiding the agonies of modern life. ‘Let me fix me first and then worry about the rest of the world’. A spiritual lifestyle does not take place in a cave. If we don’t take into the world around us it means very little.
A spiritual life takes place in broad day light in everything we do and touch. So be part of life and set new standards. A true act of self love in todays world is almost perceived as an act of rebellion - self respect and consideration of others ruffles more feathers than I ever thought possible. Self care is a radical public stance for non harming lifestyles and business practices. The products we buy, the food we eat, the work we do and how we do it have a huge impact the collective psyche and the economic conditions around us. Choose wisely.
Be a lover of life. Be a rebel. Take your happiness into your own hands, become the CEO of your life, health and state of mind. Do it for yourself and everyone else out there. You’re not the only one in pain. Pray for clarity like to mean it, dare to keep your eyes open to the pains of the world. Be the happiness you want to see in the world. Share the love...play!
Pura Vida!
With lots of love,
Wandergirl
