I’ve had an interesting past week. Interesting in that it’s been in many ways unpleasant — a sort of throwback to days of yore when I was always stressed about money and always feeling like I wasn’t doing enough.
Today upon resurfacing from my rut, I happened upon some valuable perspective noticed just how liberating it is that this has the first time in months that I’ve regressed back to what used to literally be my constant state of being.
The difference between the two states is easy to identify and communicate, but harder to flip a switch and implement: harmony.
Here’s what I’ve learned: living in harmony does not mean life is free of all problems or concerns. Harmony doesn’t require that you lie in a meadow all day watching butterflies and petting rabbits. It also doesn’t mean you have to forgo all of your aspirations and desires.
Put simply, living in harmony (to me) is the state you’re in when you simply stop rejecting both yourself and life. It’s that relieving feeling that comes when you just accept what is.
Lately I’ve been stressing.
- Stressing about money (recently passed below the $ threshold I said I’d consider stopping traveling if I passed)
- Stressing about being behind on projects
- Stressing about emails
- Stressing about all the shit I have to do.
A Buddhist precept that Theresa often reminds me of is that pain is unavoidable, but suffering is a choice. Today I managed to release the judgement and guilt I was feeling about all the ways I was “failing myself and others” and accepted where I was at as a starting point, and worked from there. And wouldn’t ya know it, I had a fantastic and productive day and took a big step forward towards that state of harmony that I love so much.
I hope this helps if you’re feeling the tension and self-imposed judgement in your own life right now.
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