Holding On
Whew! I have been out of commission for the last few months with my blogs and newsletters, but now I am finally back, and ready to move on…
A few months ago, I posted a blog about LETTING GO, in which I wrote about my recent personal experience of downsizing and moving to yet another home. That post elicited quite a number of responses – surprising in one way, and yet it clearly struck a common chord of “dis-ease” for so many of us.
I realize that this process is a very difficult one that involves a lot of decision making, soul searching, and recognizing that the other part of letting go is HOLDING ON. So, how is that determined? Holding on to what? It clearly involves a conversation between the heart and the mind. Imagine that interchange for a moment: Mind: “When was the last time you used that?” Heart: “But I like it, or I might need it someday…” Yes, you may like that special item, but more importantly, what meaning does it hold for you? How is it contributing to your life? Is it something that keeps you thinking about the past? Is that a good thing? What about the future? In the larger scheme of things, is it so very important.
Now that we are in a much smaller place, holding onto stuff is no longer an option. As I mentioned in my last blog, the process of letting go was painful, but at the same time, liberating. It moved me from the orientation of holding onto “stuff” to one of re-focusing my priorities to hold onto much more important things that did not have the same parameters to them.
So, what are some of the more important things to hold onto, no matter what, where, when, why or how? Here are some thoughts of the top 6 things that I am determined to keep wherever I go:
LOVE – this may sound so redundant and trite, but
guess what? As my favorite poem “Desiderata”
says, “in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass”. It’s what gets us
through the toughest of times, and nurtures our
soul – always…
GRATITUDE – there is not a day that goes by that I am not
grateful for something, and it not a bad idea to take
a few minutes at the end of the day to find one thing
to be thankful for – even if you had a bad day.
OPTIMISM – to approach every challenge and hurdle and
turn them into opportunities is such an
empowering tool. Having the attitude that
everything that comes to you can be dealt with,
puts YOU in control.
HAPPINESS – being happy is not just a state of mind, it is a
state of being! Having a sense of humor,
appreciating the beauty of the natural world
around us and living fully in each moment gives
me such joy and a sense of purpose for my life.
SPIRITUALITY – no matter what you believe in or what
your faith is, your “inner compass” is that
aspect of you that fuels your whole self –
body, mind and soul. Listening to your
intuition, and being in touch with your
thoughts, feelings and senses gives you
the wisdom, resilience and courage to
live your life as fully and joyfully as possible.
COMPASSION – feeling part of the whole is a key component
in taking action to help one another. We are
all connected in some way, and what we do to
each other, we do to ourselves. Generosity and
kindness have such a powerful impact on our
human interactions. As the Dalai Lama
says “my religion is kindness”…
These are some of the things I will not let go, for I find that they serve me well – they are timeless and enduring, and…very powerful! Much better than “stuff”. Maybe they will help me make a difference in the world…
Do you know that some of the happiest persons on earth are the ones that have the least material things?
What about you? What will you let go of and hold onto?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!