Keeping a Sense of Self

Stimulation is a constant in today’s society. Rare is the morning when we awake on our own and just breathe in the morning air. From the moment we arise, our body, minds and energetic fields are assaulted with stimuli. Alarm clocks, radios, televisions, computers and other electronic devices bombard us. Usually our minds go into high gear as soon as our feet touch the ground. All this occurs and we haven’t even left our bedrooms yet. Then, we have to deal with the energies of our loved ones. The hectic morning rush is not a good time to try to bond and connect with family. Lost items and missing the bus can wreak havoc on a peaceful breakfast. One can feel guilty wishing to be alone again and it hasn’t even been an hour that you have all been awake! Having to move onward, we start our day. Driving to work, stopping to get gas, listening to the news and dealing with traffic is enough to make anyone just want to crawl back to the comfort and security of their bed. All throughout the day, we hear what others think about politics, family values and the way little league needs to be run. We learn of others good news and the ill health of those close to us. The assault is constant. The stress it causes is real. Sometimes I just want to hide and take a deep breath. So while all of this is going on, how can you maintain a sense of self? How in the world can you even know your own thoughts let alone be at peace? It is not an easy task and it has taken me years to have the sense of self I have now. First and foremost, you have to want to be at peace and radiate peace for yourself and others. If you are looking for peacefulness outside of yourself, chances are you will be waiting a long time. I no longer own my families trivial concerns. I support them but allow them to handle the crisis and make their own decisions. I support my husband in his crazy, demanding job and pray for him, but I don’t carry it with me every minute of the day. I don’t absorb other’s opinions on religion and politics, as a matter of fact, I don’t even discuss them. I was never a good debater. I know my own thoughts on each subject. I usually just listen. Most importantly, I don’t allow myself to be hounded by constant external stimuli. I rarely listen to the TV news or radio. I walk away if a conversation turns negative. I don’t have Facebook up all the time on my computer. My cellphone just texts and makes calls. I find I can breathe and handle the chaos of daily living better, thus maintaining a truer sense of self. I know this won’t work for everyone but I just wanted to share what has worked for me.
Enjoy the silence!

Photo taken by Tracy Irvine @ www.tracyirvinephotography.com