"Peace comes from within - do not seek it without" - a quote from 'Buddha'
Wow, how powerful a quote - it reminds me that my contradictions in life about wanting inner-peace and contentment and yet wanting a successful business that will allow us a more than comfortable income can't always co-exist. O.k. - well, then, how do we break it down? How do I find the balance?
Lets see - by understanding my ultimate goal and keeping faith and focus towards that goal which again, is NOT riches and success - but IS contentment, happiness and inner-peace, I can start to categorize Material versus Spiritual (in other words External versus Internal).
O.k., so why DO i want money and success in my life? Why do I see - but I don't seek? Why do I feel, but I don't act on those feelings?
Well, I want the money and success in my life because I feel that money will open doors for my family and myself to enjoy more of what life offers. I feel that we are missing out on vacations, and opportunities to experience the world around us. Not to mention my children's educations and life-style. I've always dreamed of a cottage and re-decorating the house. Am I asking for too much? Absolutely - I've got the 'give-me overloads'!!!
Why? Why am I seeing these things as the answer to my happiness? They are all external (Material). They are the sugar to the coffee and the gravy to the meat - they are not necessary to create happiness as they lack volume, passion and spiritual connection.
When times are financially tough, we become overwhelmed and feel somewhat defeated. We try to do our best, but just can't figure out how to climb out of the bag. We're sitting in the bottom and can see the light at the top, but just aren't sure what steps to take to climb up and out. Sometimes its just so hard to get past the stress of trying to work out bill payment schedules and just barely making ends meet. Sometimes we're so tight that its hard to buy a new pair of shoes or basic living items, like a toothbrush (crazy, I know - but its happened). I can't imagine going into a grocery store and buying exactly what I'd like to - without worrying if the dreaded word "INSUF" will flash up when you put through your debit. Talk about making my heart sink!!! Of course, it would be nice to have the luxury of not worrying about whats in the bank account and being able to buy what you want and more importantly what you need!!!
Another word - need!!! What do we truly NEED to be happy or content? What do we THINK we need to be happy and content? Trust me. I constantly have to challenge myself as to the meaning of 'want' and 'need'. When I'm out at the mall or at a beautiful home decor store, I must struggle that my WANT doesn't override my NEED! I guess we all have to do that. IT's better to head to the Mall - go for what you came for and get the heck out!!! I know I need new shoes so that my feet stay warm and comfortable at work, but I'd really love to buy the sexy sandals (which I would wear a few times over the summer.) I need new dress pants (again, for work), but I'd really love to buy those cute jeans and top. You get the picture! Without the extra - NEEDS are number 1.
On a deeper level, I do know I NEED someone to love and to be loved by someone - wholly and completely! My husband, Spencer, is the rock in my life. He's my best friend and truly is my soul-mate. For this I am truly grateful and know I have been blessed to receive such a wonderful gift in his love! This is a WANT that turned into a NEED and I got it (or him, should I say).
Bottom line - there's so much to complain about, but if we're given one, two, three fantastic blessings in our loves, well, then shouldn't that be a start? Shouldn't that make us feel on top of the world and everything else should become secondary? It does, when I remind myself to remember how lucky I am and that love is the greatest gift of all (internal) - not diamonds and vacation homes (external!) Mmmm... that really gives me something to think about.....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Lets see.... where do I begin?
Hello everyone,
Thankyou so much, for being among the first to join me in my journey as I stumble and sometimes down-right fall (as I'm sure some of you do) through these unsure years in my life. Here I am 48 and I thought I had it all figured out - thought I had plenty of time to get my act together after the kids were old enough for me to focus on me - wrong! I mean, we all strive for money, health, creativity, success, self-worth and accomplishment... ya da ya da ya da.... but isn't 'Peace of mind' (or inner peace) right there on the top of the heap? I mean wouldn't 'Peace-of-mind' pretty much umbrella everything else and if it didn't then it didn't matter in the first place? Right? Why do I keep telling myself this, but yet don't know how to get there? How do I create satisfaction with what I have NOW and what I do NOW? I've heard over and over again, that THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING is a daily exercise that we should all be practicing yet, I have yet to see its power (although it has dropped in now and again - tho in small amounts!)
Why do I constantly disappoint myself because I haven't achieved my goals? What exactly are my goals? I'm not sure. I just know (or at least I think I know) it involves creating a successful business which will allow me to use my 'God-given talents', - my artistic abilities, thus giving me a sense of pride and accomplishment. It all sounds so good and reminds me of when I was a little girl and was sure I would be an actress one day. I remember, when I was 12, I had begged my parents to sign me up for acting lessons and when I arrived at my local theatre for the Saturday morning session, I was so terrified to get on stage, let-alone speak!!! I was more interested in the beautiful costumes and wigs on display, in the back dressing rooms. An actress I would not be.
Anyway, as I mentioned I have been blessed with a talent that I seem to constantly take for granted. Don't get me wrong, I'm so appreciateve - but find I have a hard time focussing on one project. My mind spins with ideas and inspirational visions. I play guitar (although not great) I have written songs and children's picture books. I have illustrated a few pages from those children books and I have been designing and writing my own greeting cards - great, have I done anything with them? No!!! Have I pushed forward and tried to investigate the market and how I can turn my 'gifts' into a career? I'd love to be able to say its 'something I love to do' but quite honestly, there's so much pressure to be creative and to use these talents that I don't know which end is up or which way to venture. I know I sould completely confused and that's because I am!!!. It really won't take much to make a change for the better in our financial house hold, But above 'getting by' it would be nice to enjoy the odd family vacation or re-decorate parts of the house. I guess we do have enough, but it is just enough that it is not enough to live stress-free.
Why is it that I get these brilliantly creative ideas and yet, I can't seem to push forward with them. I lose focus and I start to doubt my abilities. I also become overwhelmed with which step to take next. If I had someone giving me direction, I'd be doing great on the creative end. Does anyone else feel this way about making your dreams become a reality? How do others make something huge out of nothing when I (like others) can't make a little something out of something? I don't mean to sound like a page out of a Dr. Seuss book, but it does make sense.
I was a teenager during the 70's and well everything seemed so simple back then - you went to school (except for the odd skip), you hung out with your friends and listened to the latest LP on your record player. When you graduated from High School, there were two options - A) go to college/University and... B) GET A JOB! Why is it then, that kids today (I have three boys - 21, 19 and 16) graduate from school with no sense of urgency to get the full-time job or to go to school. Why do kids expect so much, these days and often grumble when asked to help out? We knew what chores were expected of us - we didn't wait to be told or asked, we just did them because that was the way it was. Why do kids, today, insist that its the end of the world if you ask them to take out the garbage and recycling or to do the dishes? Or in my case I get one brother trying to pawn it on to the next one which usually starts an argument of some sort. Most times we do it ourselves because, quite frankly, we'd rather spare the argument.
The cost of living - now there's another thing. Everything keeps going up, but salaries are levelling - how does that work? I work part time in retail and well, minimum wage just doesn't cut it. An hours work, may buy me a bag or milk, bread and maybe a bag of Nachos or chips for the kids. How can that be? Feeding our three boys is a huge expense. All three boys love cereal and well, we must go through 3 bags of milk a week (which means 9 single bags.) How are we supposed to do it? How do single parents do it? My heart goes out to all of you.
Anyway, there is so much to talk about and to explore while venturing out on this journey. I hope you'll be joining me from time-to-time. I hope to inspire and enlighten you. I hope you can do the same fo rme.
Bye for now, friends.....
Beverley
Thankyou so much, for being among the first to join me in my journey as I stumble and sometimes down-right fall (as I'm sure some of you do) through these unsure years in my life. Here I am 48 and I thought I had it all figured out - thought I had plenty of time to get my act together after the kids were old enough for me to focus on me - wrong! I mean, we all strive for money, health, creativity, success, self-worth and accomplishment... ya da ya da ya da.... but isn't 'Peace of mind' (or inner peace) right there on the top of the heap? I mean wouldn't 'Peace-of-mind' pretty much umbrella everything else and if it didn't then it didn't matter in the first place? Right? Why do I keep telling myself this, but yet don't know how to get there? How do I create satisfaction with what I have NOW and what I do NOW? I've heard over and over again, that THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING is a daily exercise that we should all be practicing yet, I have yet to see its power (although it has dropped in now and again - tho in small amounts!)
Why do I constantly disappoint myself because I haven't achieved my goals? What exactly are my goals? I'm not sure. I just know (or at least I think I know) it involves creating a successful business which will allow me to use my 'God-given talents', - my artistic abilities, thus giving me a sense of pride and accomplishment. It all sounds so good and reminds me of when I was a little girl and was sure I would be an actress one day. I remember, when I was 12, I had begged my parents to sign me up for acting lessons and when I arrived at my local theatre for the Saturday morning session, I was so terrified to get on stage, let-alone speak!!! I was more interested in the beautiful costumes and wigs on display, in the back dressing rooms. An actress I would not be.
Anyway, as I mentioned I have been blessed with a talent that I seem to constantly take for granted. Don't get me wrong, I'm so appreciateve - but find I have a hard time focussing on one project. My mind spins with ideas and inspirational visions. I play guitar (although not great) I have written songs and children's picture books. I have illustrated a few pages from those children books and I have been designing and writing my own greeting cards - great, have I done anything with them? No!!! Have I pushed forward and tried to investigate the market and how I can turn my 'gifts' into a career? I'd love to be able to say its 'something I love to do' but quite honestly, there's so much pressure to be creative and to use these talents that I don't know which end is up or which way to venture. I know I sould completely confused and that's because I am!!!. It really won't take much to make a change for the better in our financial house hold, But above 'getting by' it would be nice to enjoy the odd family vacation or re-decorate parts of the house. I guess we do have enough, but it is just enough that it is not enough to live stress-free.
Why is it that I get these brilliantly creative ideas and yet, I can't seem to push forward with them. I lose focus and I start to doubt my abilities. I also become overwhelmed with which step to take next. If I had someone giving me direction, I'd be doing great on the creative end. Does anyone else feel this way about making your dreams become a reality? How do others make something huge out of nothing when I (like others) can't make a little something out of something? I don't mean to sound like a page out of a Dr. Seuss book, but it does make sense.
I was a teenager during the 70's and well everything seemed so simple back then - you went to school (except for the odd skip), you hung out with your friends and listened to the latest LP on your record player. When you graduated from High School, there were two options - A) go to college/University and... B) GET A JOB! Why is it then, that kids today (I have three boys - 21, 19 and 16) graduate from school with no sense of urgency to get the full-time job or to go to school. Why do kids expect so much, these days and often grumble when asked to help out? We knew what chores were expected of us - we didn't wait to be told or asked, we just did them because that was the way it was. Why do kids, today, insist that its the end of the world if you ask them to take out the garbage and recycling or to do the dishes? Or in my case I get one brother trying to pawn it on to the next one which usually starts an argument of some sort. Most times we do it ourselves because, quite frankly, we'd rather spare the argument.
The cost of living - now there's another thing. Everything keeps going up, but salaries are levelling - how does that work? I work part time in retail and well, minimum wage just doesn't cut it. An hours work, may buy me a bag or milk, bread and maybe a bag of Nachos or chips for the kids. How can that be? Feeding our three boys is a huge expense. All three boys love cereal and well, we must go through 3 bags of milk a week (which means 9 single bags.) How are we supposed to do it? How do single parents do it? My heart goes out to all of you.
Anyway, there is so much to talk about and to explore while venturing out on this journey. I hope you'll be joining me from time-to-time. I hope to inspire and enlighten you. I hope you can do the same fo rme.
Bye for now, friends.....
Beverley
Lets try that again....
Hi again,
Could we please try that again? I was unsure on how to go back in to my first posting so I could edit and re-write a few things. Sorry for my sloppiness - not such a great first impression!
Anyway, as I rambled on about growing up in the 70s compared to current times and about the cost of living etc... I realized that perhaps you don't want to read about the obvious, maybe its like listening to a family member or a friend drag you down with their problems when you just want to be heard, yourself. I guess I consider this self-therapy of sorts. A way to get my 'Ya-yas-out'. so to speak. But if you're up for it and don't mind being the shoulder for me to lean on, by all means please read on.....
Could we please try that again? I was unsure on how to go back in to my first posting so I could edit and re-write a few things. Sorry for my sloppiness - not such a great first impression!
Anyway, as I rambled on about growing up in the 70s compared to current times and about the cost of living etc... I realized that perhaps you don't want to read about the obvious, maybe its like listening to a family member or a friend drag you down with their problems when you just want to be heard, yourself. I guess I consider this self-therapy of sorts. A way to get my 'Ya-yas-out'. so to speak. But if you're up for it and don't mind being the shoulder for me to lean on, by all means please read on.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)