Life sure has its way of pulling us in different directions at one time, doesn't it?
Lately I've been finding myself on the edge of sanity, yearning for an escape from the busyness that keeps me from my creative self and the simple living I long for.
Appointments, kids, housework, extracurricular activities, pets, work, the computer, the phone, the boss. You know what I'm talking about. The craziness that keeps us from getting back to basics & living a more meaningful life.
Usually people have grand ideas of ringing in each new year with resolutions, or make the reoccurring statement of "someday" (myself included), only to find that "someday"gone & went without us even recognizing.
So how do we separate the "busyness" of daily life from the truly fulfilling moments we often let slip away on a routine basis?
Here are a few tips that might offer some solutions in embracing the "simple life" & how to avoid the chaos that sometimes controls our way of being.
1. Let go of the "multitasking" mentality.
Do only one thing at a time. When reading, only read. When eating only eat, and so on. As you commit to only doing one thing at a time, start to then slow down the one thing you are doing, becoming more mindful of the moment. Multitasking can be a great asset in certain areas of your life, but it does not & should not, encompas all the areas of your life.
2. Ask for help when challenges arise.
People associate asking for help as a form of weakness or incapability. Most people I'm certain, are more than willing to help others during struggles or challenges, without seeing that person as weak or incapable. So why should you? Scientific studies prove that when a person offers to help another, the hormone Oxytocin increases in our brains, giving that person an altruistic "helpers high". If helping others is important to you, why not let others do the same for you?
3. Get excited about the little things & small victories.
We are constantly inundated through media & society trends: have more, be the best, have the best, be prettier, be skinner, be healthier, that we've become desensitized to the little things & victories that are happening around us on a daily basis. If you want to truly get in touch with these "little things" & "victories" I speak of, spend some time with a child between the ages of 3-5. You'll observe more celebrated little things & victories in a matter of minutes than you've probably allowed yourself to experience in days, weeks, maybe years. There are many lessons to be learned through the eyes of a child. All we need to do, is open our eyes & shut out the daily distractions we've succumbed to.
4. Find your inner artist.
With all of life's demands compounding our daily routine, we've forgotten that there is an inner artist in each & every one of us! If you aren't allowing yourself to maintain a hobby, interest or talent, you're denying yourself and others from gifts you were innately born with! Make a comittment to spend one hour a day, a week or even a month to do that "something" you've always wanted to do. You're never too old to learn to play an instrument, start painting, take dance lessons, sing with wild abandon, or slap some clay on a potters wheel. What is it you've been keeping yourself from doing because, life is "too busy"? If you have ever muttered the words "time flies", isn't it time to start doing that "something" you've always wanted to do? Life is short. Live a little life for yourself, not just for everyone else.
5. Scatter Kindness.
I've experienced having very little, & having much in life. During times of having little, I always understood that somewhere, someone else had less. Kindness is a way of showing others, they matter, and that their well being is important to you. By implementing any one or more of these simple acts, you can BE that change so desperately needed in your life, and the lives of others!
Be Kind
Be Thoughtful
Be Empathetic
Be Compassionate
Give & Forgive Generously
Use Manners
Volunteer
Share A Smile
Send A Note (not a text)
Say Thank You
Expect Nothing In Return
Love Unconditionally
How do you manage the complexities life throws at you? We'd love to hear your thoughts & ideas!
