Hello and welcome to week 5 of my Intuitive Living series! This series of blogs was inspired by Sonia Choquette's "Trust Your Vibes" print and audio books. I learned and grew so much as a result of following through with the steps outlined in these programs, and would love to share those lessons with you, too!
Each week I will be posting a new blog talking about my journey and how the lessons in Sonia's books applied to me as well as a weekly practice that you can do along with me. Sound exciting? I hope so!!
Click below for this week's assignment!
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This week, we move from focusing on the body to focusing on the mind and emotions.
Just for a moment, imagine being in the car in a city you do not know well. You are surrounded by fast moving rush hour traffic. The radio is blaring, the kids are screaming, and your significant other is trying to tell you how to get to your destination.
Wow! Just a few seconds thinking about that left me feeling stressed out and completely overwhelmed!! And being in that situation can be infinitely worse! When we allow ourselves to get into this kind of emotional state, we've barely able to connect with our Ego-driven minds, let alone our Spirit-driven higher selves. But, many of us live like this day to day, week after week, year after year. In our society, the very idea of slowing down, avoiding stress, releasing competition and leaving the Rat Race is something only irresponsible, airy fairy hippies do.
Our Egos have convinced us that in order to be a useful, productive member of society we must strive, we must compete, we must work hard, and then we must go home and work some more. In our modern, technology driven lives we are constantly connected to our jobs, our friends, our family, and even random acquaintances every minute of every day. Even when we're not actually at work we're still connected to work. And more and more studies are showing that this constantly connected lifestyle is seriously bad for our health on every level. With no down time, no moments of silence and stillness, no opportunity to unplug and just be by yourself, you are likely living in a constant state of stress and anxiety and don't even realize it.
I used to live like this. I remember years and years ago when I got my very first cell phone. Back then there was no such thing as social media yet, but having a phone you could carry with you all the time was finally starting to become affordable to the average person. I got the phone because I was working at a drug and alcohol rehab center that was located ten miles out of town, and I'd been hired to work the overnight shift. So, the phone as a lifeline to carry in case something were to happen and I needed to call for help.
Man, I loved that phone! I loved being able to call anyone I wanted any time I felt like it. I loved traveling and knowing that if I got a flat tire or the car broke down, I could call for help. And I felt important. I wasn't just a person in the world - I was a connected person!
Of course, the honeymoon didn't last. I soon discovered that being connected had it's down side. With the cell phone, my overnight, weekends-only job quickly turned into an on-call, whenever-we-want-you-here job. I never had a moment when I could just be. I never knew when I'd get a call telling me someone hadn't shown up and I needed to drop whatever I was doing so I could go to work. I loved my job, and I loved the clients I worked with, but I hated that my life was not my own anymore. There was no such thing a day off anymore.
I've had cell phones off and on over the years, but after that experience, I don't really enjoy having one anymore. And when I do have one, I'm very selective about who has the number and when I'm willing to answer.
This week, I'd like to conduct an experiment with you. I'd like to find out just how being so connected affects you and your Spirit. So, just for the next seven days, I'd like you all to take a step back. Turn the cell phone off after you come home from work for the day or make a commitment only to answer if the call is from a close friend or family member. Set a limit on the number of hours you spend on Facebook, Twitter, and other social outlets. Note how this step back affects you. Do you feel lost? Lonely? Disconnected? Do you feel more stressed by the lack of connection, or are you less stressed?
Please, feel free to check back in with me throughout the week using the comments section here on my blog or by contacting me through my Facebook page. I would love to hear your experiences!
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