Hi. My name is Christopher Foster. Welcome to The Happy Seeker. It's my hope that it may touch a chord of true happiness, inner peace and well-being in you that will bless you and enrich your life. How to deal with exhaustion
June 17th, 2010 by
It may be very true that at the core of our being is timeless peace and happiness. But even so, life in this human world can get exhausting in a hurry at times.
A move, for example, can have this effect. Especially if you become aware that your dream home is not without imperfections that need improving or upgrading — even as you are still struggling to unpack innumerable boxes…
What do we do if we realize we are becoming exhausted for some reason, and life is losing its savor? Here are some thoughts on this matter.
Just let everything come to rest
1. The most important response, I find, is to simply let everything come to rest for a moment.
Face the fact that there is nothing you can do in this particular moment to change or improve your outer situation in any way.
What you CAN do and what you need to do is to empty your mind of its busy thoughts and concerns — and receive whatever is present without judgment.
There is enormous power in this step. It opens a channel so that life can begin to flow through you more freely, and the victorious nature of your own spirit can renew itself through you.
Take time to “stand and stare”
2. Take to heart the words of the Welsh poet WH Davies: “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” Right now, I’m looking out the window of my little study at the beautiful, 30-foot high blue spruce that grows outside the window.
We have only been in our new home a week or two, but during this time this wonderful tree has been quite unmoved and unchanged. It has been itself — a source of strength and peace that reminds me of my own true strength, my own timeless presence.
Dare to bless your world
3. Dare to bless your world. Is there someone you have been judging or condemning in the last week or two? Perhaps a neighbor — perhaps someone on the world scene who has obviously behaved badly and irresponsibly, like one of the leaders of BP?
Take another look at whoever it is.
Remind yourself that even though they may have behaved badly, we are all part of the mixed up state we call human nature — even as at the core of our being we are all unchanged, untroubled, timeless being — already happy, and already free.
Here are three approaches that have helped me deal with exhaustion and re-connect with the stillness and peace of my own being. Do you have any tips of your own you’d like to add?
Picture credit: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4703378213_36e2a14c4e_m.jpg
Chris and JoAnn – We continue to think of you and wish you well in your new home. May it truly become a home for you soon.
Thank you so much for your good wishes Corinne. A pleasure to be in touch with you both and we send you our very best wishes also. I’m most thnkful for my connection with you.
Thanks you for publishing these three important steps we exhausted people can all take to tune into what really matters within, to change the things we can change, and to accept those things we cannot change with grace.
Learning how to let go and make the happiness choice is a minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day process. Once we recognize that holding onto negativity towards others, ourselves and our circumstances only poisons us, then we can be at peace, and turn on the flow of gratitude and benefit from it’s rejuvenating stream.
This is my first visit to your blog but it won’t be the last. May peace be with thee always,
TiTi
Thank you so much for your words TiTi. They are a blessing. I love how you describe “turning on the flow of gratitude” and it is a rejuvenating stream for sure. Peace be with you also and so happy to have made this connection with you.
This is a lovely post.
Every morning, I have half an hour of my ‘stillness’ time. One of the things I do is read Desiderata. It gives me perspective that each day I can do the best that I can and that is enough. Doesn’t matter about anybody else’s expectation, if I know I have done the best I can that’s okay.
Desiderata tells me to ‘be gentle with yourself’. Taken me a lot of years of learning and growing but today, I am gentle with myself and I take time to watch the daisies grow.
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words Juliana. As I read your words I thought of Nature and how she grows a tree for instance. She takes her time. There’s a magnificent blue spruce right outside my study window and Nature must have been growing that tree for nearly 30 years…but so gently and kindly you’d never know it…Please stop by again some time and drop off a few more blessings…