Seriously, Take a Breath!

So often are we focused on what to do next that we forget to live in the present.

We forget that there will always be something else coming and going, that there will always be work waiting for us. We lose the meaning of peace because we fill our lives up with stuff. Stuff is distractions, detours, and roadblocks of our journey that hinder a fulfilling life. Stuff is pain, misery, and anguish as a result of the hindrances. Stuff prohibits the natural movement of our being, our uniqueness, and our beauty which defines our actions and abilities to make a difference to ourselves and to others. It can serve us poorly in the grand scheme of things.

What is peace?

Peace looks different for all of us. As we continue to navigate our respective journies, we encounter situations and challenges that are designed to test us. We see just what we are made of when things get tough. When we allow these obstacles to dominate and alter our perceptions of self, we mistake our identity for something, or someone, else. This causes us to operate outside of our lane into someone else's and interfering in another's life and purpose. We begin to see the clutter and wonder, "how in the world did I get here?".

When we operate in peace, we know that although things are less than perfect that we have the ability to positively influence ourselves and others that it's going to be okay. We go from a microscopic view to understanding a bigger picture. The road goes from obscure to clear. The interactions and situations that we encounter no longer seem so trivial, exhausting, nor time- consuming. Peace does not equate to perfection; however, it does equate to the understanding that things are the way they are for now for my benefit in the end.

Find Your Peace!

So seriously, take a breath! I can assure you that anything that causes you grief, anxiety, depression, and unrest will be there tomorrow- of course, this can be literal or figurative 'tomorrow'. The point is that when you have peace, you can think a little clearer about those moments that are less than ideal. I don't know if you need to meditate, pray, go for a run, create, write, jump, dance, sing, go on a sabbatical, or work on a project that brings you that same nostalgic joy you had when you were a child. You owe it to yourself to reset, so power off for a minute or two.

To help you get started with finding your peace, think about these questions...

1. What is your passion? (what could you do happily and not receive one cent for it).
2. What is your proficiency? (What is your main focus? It should be something that adds the most value, or has great results).
3. What makes that time so valuable to you? (How does it relax you? It should feel therapeutic).
4. How can I constantly make this an essential part of my life? (You first need to prioritize yourself. We are our best selves when we take care of our needs. What are those needs? If you can't take care of all of it, then where can you go, or whom can you talk to, to get those needs met?).

Remember, you are just as valuable as the people around you.

Take time to yourself even to just self-evaluate your choices and decisions. Don't be afraid to reach out to the person or people that you trust explicitly. Contrary to what anyone will ever say, we will ALWAYS need other people in our lives. We, as human beings, were created to need each other. Many successful people have a support system of some kind that helped hold them accountable to themselves, steer them in the right direction, and encourage them to be their best selves.

If you are ever in need of someone just to listen to your thoughts, there are many resources out there that will benefit you- yes, I am an advocate of therapy because it does help. Although we all have our own journies to travel, we are not alone in this world. Share your burdens! I guarantee you that someone else is either going through something similar or just went through something.