Are you seeking a life of ease? With practice and concentration, I believe a life of ease is possible. After returning home from a month in a small village in Baja California Sur, Mexico, I am working on integrating ease into my life while living outside a small town in Northern Alberta, Canada. After experiencing daily doses of heat, sand, ocean, and sunrises, I came home feeling happy, open, connected, and content. Working from home and having kids in their teens affords Mountain Man and I the luxury to work from anywhere. The internet is amazing!
While I was in Mexico, I noticed how life was easy. There was no snow or cold, I was seeing new things each day, and I was removed from the various stressors of running a household and other daily responsibilities. People were extremely friendly, I worked on my Spanish, I Skyped (Zoomed actually!) with my clients, practised Spring Forest Qigong, and enjoyed free time reading, walking, and journaling each day.
I felt very connected to myself and the universe.
When I returned to my cold home (-34˚C), I noticed many people in my town were irritable and grumpy. I get it. Living in the cold is a struggle. But aside from the freezing temperature, some of the stressful trappings of day-to-day living started creeping in. I could feel myself tensing up (or close off) when I was paying bills, getting the car repaired, or planning my week. I was disconnecting from the universe and losing that sense of contentment.
Does the contrast between life in Mexico and life at home have to be so big? Is it possible to live each day as if on a holiday? What is it about daily living that can make me feel like I am dragging around my heavy parka?
Sometimes I struggle with day to day living out of habit. Small talk is often based on complaints about daily life; we feel unity when others are suffering along with us. Work is just that, work, and it’s hard at times! I love teaching and creating, but I don’t like worrying about getting workshops filled. I love working with my clients but I don’t love bookkeeping.
It’s not the holiday I’m seeking, it’s the way I felt about myself when I was in the environment of low stress, connection, and ocean awe that I want!
So I have decided to do things differently; to shift my perspective. Life is about love, joy, and happiness; not about stress, worry, and struggle. We are meant to be the radiant beings of light here to experience all life has to offer. What may be happening to my friend or my child is not happening to me. I can serve them best if I take care of myself; if I see to it that I am happy and healthy. Do you see the huge potential of how life could change if we all took care of ourselves?
In order to be happy and healthy, I have to find joy and feel connected each day.
Working and daily obligations do not have to change that. If I structure my life such that I do something that brings me joy each day, life will be easier. My Qigong practice will help with the connection and balance. I am not sure if it will feel like a holiday, but trying new things, reading a novel, going for a walk, ski, or swim, watching a show, finding new music, making love, taking a class, learning a new language, having lunch with a friend, knitting, or whatever feels good on any particular day, will feed me in ways that will bring more love, joy, and happiness into my world. Does that seem selfish? Selfish is actually a good thing! It means I am taking care of myself. By taking care of myself and being happy, others will benefit, making it easier for them to find it too. That is my single most important responsibility in living this life. Finding things that make me feel good, and focussing on those things which will thereby bring more of those things to me.
And when I feel myself getting irritable or worried, I will stop and breathe. I will bring the light back into my body and allow my heart to open further. By bringing the energy out of my head and into my body, my perspective shifts and my problems seem smaller and easier.
I knew this all along, and so do you. But lovely Mexico reminded me. Back on track!
I would love to hear in the comments your experience with finding happiness and ease in your life. Thank you for reading. Day 84 of 100 Days of continuous Qigong!
Love and light,
Sue Crites, Holistic Healing and Qigong
Healing through breath, balance, and purpose
Lovely observation of the challenges and joys we bring into our lives by choice.
I know fully well what you are experiencing and share the choice of being selfish, selfish for the betterment of all those I come in contact with so together we can radiate positive light linking to the universe…to shine upon each receptive being.
Living in Bali part time has taught me the importance of balancing the modern world, attracting one to materialistic acquisition that…causes us stress to look after, and, the simplicity of the ancient ways: sharing what we have with those in community, those who are less fortunate; respecting environment, blessing it for providing our nourishment,health and growth; and staying in balance to the energies, both positive and negative.
I leave this ancient civilization full of karma action today. My track leads me to the diversity of Europe, and then home bound to Vancouver. A place I truley love.
When, home in BC, I also feel the challenge to keep focus, keep the spiritual connection on the forefront. I too find deep pleasure in aligning mind, body and spirit with my qigong practice. So very beneficial…and share these benefits with fellow class members.
One last tidbit I’d like to pass on…SMILE, genuinely with pure heart, direct eye contact, taking a pause during this action, to every soul met on the path. Animal, bird, wind, and water…all are life and need nourishment. When I smile, it resipricates and sends energy to each cell in my body. Its strong and can be utilized for goodness.
Om swastiastu,
Blessing from Bali,
The Geko Treker, lifelong wanderer
Suzan thank you for your lovely comments! Your ability to stay balanced given the extremes in your living environment is inspirational. Thank you for sharing. I trust you are back in Vancouver and enjoying the ocean and blossoms.
I really love your tidbit on making the SMILE count. Great advice. I look forward to meeting you in Bali one day!
Love and light,
Sue
I totally relate to this, Sue. Thanks for your post! When I used to work for corp. America and go on vacation, when I returned my co-workers would say, “Welcome back to reality.” They used to give me the strangest looks when I replied that I was in reality when on vacation, not back at work. They didn’t get it.
I know so many stressed out people, and I’m doing things like Qigong to help them. In my own life, I’m doing just what you are doing–feeding myself with things I can connect with several times a week (plus, I love my work). Today on a whim, I spent several hours pulling weeds in preparation for spring.
Weeding reminds me of pulling things out of my own mind and spirit that I no longer need. But, more importantly, it connects me with nature and I feel that I’m helping nature to be as radiant as possible–melding with it–breathing with it.
Let’s all heal ourselves by dropping fear which is what drives us to live insanely stressful lives sometimes! This pattern is so unproductive and harmful. Living in peace is the best way to live. When we connect mind, body, and spirit and enjoy the process of life, it seems longer and we can help ourselves live longer, healthier lives!