Cleanliness Is Next To Happiness
I’m sure most of us have experienced times in our lives when we’re busier than usual, things seem to be mounting and we are feeling the pressure. When this happens we feel discomfort, to say the least. Actually, recognizing the discomfort is a good thing. Yeesss, a good thing. It’s our sign post, our built in alarm. It’s a little tap on the shoulder to notice what’s really going on.
What is really going on and how do I break this uncomfortable pattern? Well, I look at it like cleaning my house. Maintenance. It’s all about the maintenance. If I do a little cleaning here and there, I won’t find myself in dire straights.
I want to be sailing along smoothly. Here are a few things I’ve incorporated into my life for more of a smooth sail. First, I accept the isness of the situation. Then, I put myself on the to-do list. I practice checking in with myself during the day and asking how I’m feeling, or if there’s anything I can do for me - the same way I do for others. I question my thoughts, especially the ones that come right before a bad feeling. I practice noticing and thoroughly feeling my emotions as they arise in the silence of the moment. No thinking, just feeling. The emotion melts like an ice cube - and most times faster than that - and I’m free. Most importantly, I practice keeping that volume down in my head enough that I can hear/feel my inner Guidance. It’s a process, a practice. The pressure I feel inside is a result of not doing these things.
When things seem to be piling up and the pressure mounts on the outside of us - it’s because things are pent up, piled up and the pressure is mounting on the inside of us. It’s the very reason we’re having those types of overwhelming life experiences in the first place. What’s inside, is outside.
Doing these things for ourselves, a little bit everyday, is maintenance. You can’t get across town in a car with an empty tank. Connect with yourself on a daily basis, without judgement. Plug yourself in.
Alleviate the pressure on the inside, and the pressure on the outside will disappear.