September 2006 A WELL-BALANCED PACE OF LIFE
In a society where stress has become a way of life, it's important that we remember to question this kind of thinking and rather than simply accepting it as truth, realize we have the power to make a different choice.
It's been said that we learned everything we needed to know in kindergarten, but looking at the disorder we've allowed to enter into our lives, it's easy to see that we've forgotten the value of those simple basics.
Our teachers knew we were young and took that into consideration. They knew we needed guidance and instruction, had a limited attention span, and could only handle one thing at a time. They also knew we would feel most comfortable following a regular balanced routine, so that's how our day was planned. We had activities where we learned something new, and then it was time for a snack. We discovered our creative abilities with construction paper and crayons, and then we took a nap. We had play-time where we were taught to share and be kind to one another. In this kind of environment, we felt safe and protected, loved and motivated. Overall, we were offered valuable lessons that we could carry with us throughout our entire lives.
So what happened? Well obviously, we're not five years old anymore. We've taken on adult responsibilities and even life on the planet has changed dramatically. But the basics of living a well-balanced, healthy, rewarding life still remain the same.
Let's start with our schedules. We've reviewed this topic in past Monthly Inspirations, but are you making any progress? Do you find yourself running from one "project" to the next, whether it's work or home or social activities? Have you simply scheduled in too much within a week? Are there responsibilities you can actually let go of, or get help with, rather than doing them all yourself? Do you find yourself exhausted most of the time?
We simply cannot allow ourselves to go along with such an overburdened schedule and think this is normal life. I've heard people dismiss this kind of stress as, "That's just the way it is," "That's life," and think these statements are acceptable. They are not. We must do something to reduce our stress or eventually it will take its toll and we'll experience some kind of a breakdown, either physical or emotional. We, the soul, must get conscious and realize that although we have the ability to come up with endless ideas, it is our subconscious, that inner child, who actually carries out our ideas. And because it is like a young child, we need to treat our subconscious with greater consideration and compassion. Just as we learned in preschool, children need guidance to set a healthy, balanced pace for life. They also need time for food and sleep and play. So does our subconscious. But how many times do we push ourselves to work through lunch, or go without sufficient sleep, and the idea of "play-time" doesn't even enter our minds. It's time to make adjustments.
We often treat our pets with more common sense and kindness than we treat ourselves. We take our pets for walks, provide healthy exercise and play-time, feed them a special, well-balanced diet, and allow them to sleep when they're tired. Wouldn't the same kind of overall plan work for us?
When we overload the subconscious with too much to do, it often becomes paralyzed and doesn't do anything. I had a friend share a story that illustrates this point. When her son was only six years old, she came into the kitchen to find him still at the table eating breakfast. He was supposed to be ready for school since the school bus was arriving shortly. So she snapped at him, telling him he needed to finish his breakfast, brush his teeth and get out of his pajamas, put on his clothes and get his shoes on. She left the room for a few minutes and when she returned, she found him still at the table, crying. "Which one did you want me to do first?" he asked. He was simply overwhelmed by too much at one time.
Whereas, as adults, we do know our morning routine by now, if we are still putting too much in our days or weeks or months, the result is the same. Our subconscious ends up crying out in some way and we experience the negative effects of stress.
So spend some time re-evaluating your schedule. Let go of tasks that are no longer necessary or that you can hand over to someone else. Learn to say no when you're asked to do something that you really don't have the time or energy to lend elsewhere. Add enjoyable activities, classes or outings that spark your interest, but remember the balanced pace you'd like to set for yourself and don't overbook. And remember to allow the activities to remain enjoyable. For example, if you're taking an art class, let your subconscious have fun with it instead of allowing the ego to make it a ruthless competition, demanding that the artwork be perfect or better than everyone else. When we allow the ego to behave in such a negative fashion, we have taken an enjoyable outlet and turned it into something stressful, thereby losing its value.
And finally, be sure to schedule in special time for yourself at least every week. Write it down on your calendar as an appointment. If someone asks you to do something else during that allotted time, say you already have another appointment, unless you'd really like to spend time with that person. But this special time can be your own peaceful, get-away time. Take a walk, read a book, sit in a garden, listen to music, take a bath, watch a movie, do something you enjoy that helps you get off the stress cycle and relax. We are creatures of habit who have learned to travel at a stressful pace and we need to reprogram ourselves to slow down. This means we must make a plan to simplify our life and then be consistent, patient and use repetition until the subconscious gets used to this new way of life. You'll find the health and emotional benefits are well worth your time and effort. After all, wouldn't it be nice to have the time to enjoy your life and stay healthy?
So reconsider your best interests and treat yourself well. You deserve it! Check our schedule for upcoming Arche courses and join us for more information on how to get the most out of life.
Wishing you the rewards of a balanced pace of life!SANDY DALIEGE
Angel of Peace,
Shine Down on Me,
Giving Me Strength when I'm weary.Angel of Strength,
Uphold My Being,
'lest I stumble and fall.Angel of Wisdom,
I Lift My Face to You,
Reveling in Your Light,
Rejoicing in Your Guidance.Angel of Love,
Let Me Rest My Head Upon Your Shoulder,
Allowing Your Gentle Caresses to Remind Me
Of My True Existence ~ Residing In Your Heart.Angel of Vision,
Light My Path
That I May Always Remember
My Way Back Home.Angel of Joy,
How Glorious Your Freedom.
Let us Dance Together
Through the Aeons of Eternity.A Simple Prayer, Appealing to the Highest Within Each of Us,
Attributes that Exist in The Silence, Patiently Awaiting Our Call.
~ All Is Provided ~Dear Lord,
May I Always Remain True to My Divine Expression, Living As One with
The Essence of Your Being, Allowing Your Light to Shine Through My
Existence, Reflecting The Countenance of Your Love For All Creation,
Revealing the Splendor of God.I AM the Arche and the Amen.
Glory To God In The Highest.
SANDY DALIEGE