The inspiring works I've read, and the people in my life, and a little bit of self-help have inspired me to formulate the personal philosophy that pervades this blog.
I think the subtitle of "living with a sense of gratitude and living a life of abundance" says it all, but to do this takes some work. The goal can be broken down into a few mantras or areas of focus.
The tenets are few, but I will try to expound on them briefly in order to give a framework to this discussion.
Having enough This is probably one of the hardest in our culture, but essentially it is being satisfied with what you have rather than constantly seeking more.
Try to look around yourself and be aware of the abundance that surrounds you- abundant love, abundant things, abundant food, abundant space, abundant time. What is it that you have in abundance? Celebrate that. Focus on that. Have gratitude for that in your daily life. Focus on gratitude for abundance helps to refocus the energy we otherwise put into stress and worry.
What are you really striving to have? Money and material things do not last. In this time of lacking prosperity, and in all moments of life, the joy of love, our relationships and experiences, and satisfaction with how we've lived our life are what make life memorable.
Being enough This is acceptance of yourself. Accepting that you are enough, and every moment of your life and work are what they need to be at that moment.
This also allows us to be purposeful in our endeavors and accomplish what we intend to accomplish. Allow yourself to forgive your mistakes, but strive to learn from them. You have so many gifts- whether it is the way you listen to a friend in distress, or the ability to discern notes of music from one hearing, or the ability to taste a subtle ingredient in a complex dish- these make you who you are.
The two above tenets can easily be misconstrued into a lack of ambition or not seeking to improve one's situation. It is not true! These guidelines translate to less needless consumption, less comparison with others, less competition with false idols, not less ambition. The direction of ambition is to be the best YOU can be. Did I do the best I could? Am I giving completely of myself? Did I accomplish what I set out to accomplish? Let these questions guide the direction of ambition, rather than being better than another or having more than another.
Giving of yourself and acceptance of others This dual tenet is very symbiotic in practice. To give of oneself is to truly make yourself vulnerable to another. In that vulnerability is assumed trust.
To give of yourself- your time, your concern, your money, your prayers- especially to those who are not able to recognize their own abundance allows your abundance to spread. Share in your gratitude for life!
But in giving, there must be an equal share of acceptance of others. Acceptance can take many forms- acceptance of a gift, acceptance of thanks, acceptance of an other's differences, acceptance of the opportunity to learn from another. Being able to accept from another the gifts they may bring to you- even the simple gift of compassion or a sympathetic touch - can sometimes be more difficult than giving. Every human interaction allows an opportunity for learning. It is the trust assumed in that moment that leads to a sense of humility rather than superiority. This will pervade your relationships if you are giving of yourself and accepting of others.
Taking care of yourself so you can take care of others In working in the health care field, I see the imbalance of the above as the root of so many illnesses. We lose sight of our own needs, which undermines the very fabric of our lives and we become less able to do what we want to and need to do to live fully. There are so many opportunities for the lack of taking care of oneself to lead to being unwell- depression, debt, self-doubt, anxiety, jealousy, bigotry, naivete, greed, frustration.
We are all caretakers of someone or something in our lives; how can we function in that capacity fully if we are not taking care of ourselves? You cannot possibly. To truly be aware of one's own needs, both physical and emotional, we can function more fully.
In this sense, wellness does not have to equal "health". A chronic illness may exist, but we can still strive for wellness within ourselves and in our lives.
The needs of the body are relatively obvious and these are not new concepts. However, they must be reiterated as so many of us are unable to find focus on these in order to care for ourselves. Reaching your full physical and emotional potential is the goal.
The need for nourishment is a primal one, but to take care of ourselves, striving to eat consciously and conscientiously is the challenge. Being mindful and aware of how food affects your body and your mind: when do you need food? Are you giving yourself the most nutritious food possible? Are you giving yourself enough or too much? How do you feel when you eat? And being scrupulous about your food: how are you obtaining food? Is it quality nutrition? How is it prepared?
The need for movement is also primal, but becomes less innate as we find ways to avoid movement. Search for ways to move your body for strength, for cardiovascular fitness, for flexibility, and for balance. These different ways of moving help our body to reach its full potential.
Managing stress is an axiom that is much easier said than done. Stress and all it conveys is a banal concept. However, more and more medical research is highlighting the role physiological stress plays in so many illnesses; it leaves us vulnerable to illness, prevents us from recovering quickly, and contributes to the worsening of illness. This is the one physical need that takes DAILY practice. Focusing on gratitude for the abundance of your life, as above, is one way of redirecting negative emotional drain into a positive force. Instead of worrying over problems, you can solve them. Other areas of focus- finding the ways you relax completely, finding ways to rest well as lack of sleep is often a symptom of and a result of too much stress. I started to title this section "Avoiding stress", but stress is an inevitable fact of our lives. We can allow it to take over, affect our health or we can manage it, skillfully.
To Live Well is to live at peace with yourself and others, to live fully and to live within your life as if it is the only one you are going to have.
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence by Rachel Simmons
