Thursday, February 24, 2011

Striving and Straining

Good Day Awakened Ones!

I said awakened ones not anxious ones! Some days I awaken with a general sense of anxiety. I have so much on my plate that the energy just hangs over my being.

We all may be guilty of straining and striving to do all that is ours to do, all that we desire to do that we forget how to simply enjoy life. Sometimes it is more refreshing to simply be in the flow; to let life happen without all of our goals and plans. The key is knowing when to let go and when to for he ahead.

Use your inner feelings as a signal. If you are overly anxious, relax some, if you are stuck in a jolting pattern, try and jump start some action. Just listen within to know when to go or when to slow!

The questions for today are:
. What is your life telling you? Is it time to go or to slow down?
. Do you feel comfortable taking a time out in the middle of a pressing project or task or workload?
. Are you good at prioritizing your time and energy?
. Do you know when you are maxed out? What are the signals that you may need a breather?

Well, be aware and make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia

4 comments:

  1. Today's lesson, along with the class discussion last night, helped me to reflect on how often it is that the 'positive' traits that I am proud of lead me to feel disconnected and unloving towards myself. I often find myself striving and straining to maintain my image of being responsible, hardworking and a good friend. These are 'positive' traits that I have identified with since a child but now I am starting to sense that these very traits are the ones that often leave me feeling uncared for and overwhelmed which often results in my 'negative' traits showing up to 'protect' me. Being moody, argumentative and a proscrastinator are traits that I use to carve out space for me to rejuvenate. I feel quilty wanting to slow down so instead of consciously creating a break for myself, my 'negative' emotions do it for me. Of course then I feel quilty for my 'negative' emotions. Today's lesson helps me realize that I can admit when I need a break and create the space in a more healthy fashion, guilt free.

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  2. I'm in a weird mindspace right. Right after class last night, I drove down to Salisbury to care for my mom while she is doing home hospice, and I notice when I am here, I really have SUPER energy, I have been sleeping maybe 2-3 hours a night, and always doing something, teleworking from my computer, laundry, cleaning, doing my mom's meds, working with her maachine, straightening up, and I know this how I deal with things I can't control. I then pour myself into things I can control.
    I have written up a 3 page volunteer's guideline, created a log book, made calls, arranged for who is here and probably 22% of my time is actually just sitting with my mom. I don't want to get weepy in front of her, so sometimes I will just go find something to do.
    From the outside I have acomplished the tasks of a team of 4, and looks like I am so together, but that appearance is because I haven't slowed down,and have used the tasks to avoid my feelings.
    So - yes, the universe is telling me to slow down, sit silently and feel my feelings. I took the time to tell her how much I loved her, and let her know that we will be o.k. when she makes her transition. And I had to slow down to do that.
    I dont think I am maxed out, but I am going to work in some rest.
    Heather, thanks for the reminder to post! :D

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  3. I am trying to look at what my life is telling me and there is confusion in my spirit because I have bought into this society’s attitudes towards aging – that aging is to be put off with all sorts of procedures and products; that there are things I should “have” right now in my life by this age; and if you haven’t achieved them you better put in the time to make it happen quickly. All of that produces a sort of static, that gets in the way of me looking at my life and listening to my soul. But what I know is, that when I am just doing what I love, then the work comes, the money comes, and I feel joyful, I have serenity and inner peace. I am typically praying and meditating regularly when I feel this sense of “rightness” about my life and notice the synchronicity in my life that happens that makes accomplishing things feel almost effortless. That’s flow! And then I forget and get caught up in striving and straining when I decide what I want to happen next and how my life should unfold in a particular way. Then I lose the flow and then I struggle – because I have forgotten to let go of being attached to a particular outcome and trust that my life is unfolding as the Creator would have it!

    When I am working really hard on a project I often force myself to take a time out because it seems I can’t regain my energy or enthusiasm unless I gift myself with some self-time. I am good at prioritizing my time and energy but not good with the discipline to maintain them. I know when I’m maxed out because I wake up rushing and forget my morning practice of journaling, meditation and prayer, run all day so I stop eating well and lose appetite, fall into bed exhausted but have restless sleep because I’m worrying and then wake up tired. That cycle leads to feeling lethargic. That’s when I know I need a breather, some time to just indulge in inspirational reading, slow down and restart my morning practice, which leads to me feeling centered and appreciating my body as the temple of my soul so I eat better and exercise and then I sleep better and wake up rested and feeling blessed.

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  4. I just lost my BOG. I am so grateful that when I am unable to make a meeting. All, I need to do is read Rev. Silvia's and your comments about the lesson for today and I feel that I was right there with you. I feel that when I don't pay attention to my first thougth and slow down I pay a price for not listening. I have caught the flu twice this year and have suffered from acute allergies. I now have to slow down. So I now have time for catch up on my lessons. I do feel that GOD sends us nothing but lessons and blessings and it's all GOOD.

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