Know who you are: I know this sounds maybe a little like psychobabble but I really think it is important to know yourself. We all wear masks and play parts much of the time, trying to be a great daughter, mother, sister or friend. Trying to be capable and strong or perhaps shy and retiring and put upon. But it is vital to spend some time really searching within, in order to find out who we are. Take away all the labels and masks and think of yourself by your first name. I am Barbara – but who is that? Who are you? Who is the real you? What are your passions? What really makes you tick?
Slow down. We can often live our lives at breakneck speed. Charging through our days in a very task orientated way. Perhaps we think we are really good at multi tasking and getting lots done. And that is good but not if it is at the expense of noticing beauty and joy all around us. I really think we all need to slow down. We need to develop the habit of taking time each day to just be! And the problem is that when we do stop, we feel guilty. We need to realise that by caring for ourselves, we are practicing self love and that so good for all the parts of yourself. Minding yourself will improve your physical, emotional and psychological health.
Live in the moment. Be in the Now. Be conscious of when your energy flies off in all directions. We spend endless hours worrying about the future and fretting about the past. We need to develop the habit of checking ourselves regularly. Where is your energy now? Drop the worry habit. It serves no purpose. It achieves nothing but ill health for yourself and it poisons the world around you. A great way to do this is to hand your worries/concerns to God or the Angels or Allah or the Universe or whatever. Hand them over and then hold your energy in the now.
Choose every day to be joyful, happy and positive. We choose our emotions. Learn to regularly take your emotional temperature. How am I feeling? If you are in some negative mood, make a conscious effort to bring your focus back to all that is good and positive. And smile a lot!
Remember that life is mainly a bit of a laugh. All of us have traumatic events in our lives, but never lose your sense of humour. See the ridiculous as often as you can. Live life lightly.
So yes, life is about chasing your dreams, fulfilling your wishes and ‘a daring adventure’. Perhaps some of the points I have raised might help a little along the way.
What say you?
When I read Living your Best Life No. 1, I sat in front of the empty comment box for ages and found it incredibly difficult to write what I wanted to. I read all the other comments as they came in and they were brilliant.
I was reminded of a good friend who has since died. She was married but had no children. She was not a great housekeeper, didn't like cooking and was a heavy drinker but she loved and cared deeply for animals and worked hard and enjoyed looking after them. She definitely was someone who lived her best life.
Thanks Noirin and yep, your friend (whom I also knew)surely did live her best life. She was a free spirit and someone I don't think was too worried about what others thought of her. She was true to herself. How many of us can say that?
It also reminds me of the lessons we can learn from our dogs – they love unconditionally, live to serve us their 'masters', are loyal and generally positive in their outlook. Maybe we could take some lessons from our canine friends. Felines ….. well that is something else altogether.
Thanks for your comment!
Well Barbara, all I can say is I absolutely agree with everything you have written! – well said. 🙂
'Know who you are' is a very important one…
It gives you a strong centre, a sense of self, you have got to be true to your own inner guidance or you are blown with the wind and get so bent out of shape trying to fit other peoples needs and perceptions that in the end you become unrecognisable as 'you'.
We are 'individuals' for a reason, we are all unique and it is in our own 'unique essence' that we have our own note to add to the orchestra of life.
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost.
The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.” – Martha Graham
I'm really enjoying these posts and love your advice to 'Live life lightly.'
Really interesting series of posts Barbara! For me the most important point, and the hardest for me to remmeber, is to just be yourself. There are so many expectations of us and so many labels which other people want to put on us, that I constantly find myself thinking 'mm, is it OK to say X to this person' or should I hide that part of myself? Like Susannah I sometimes feel stretched flat and lose sight of the edges! Thanks!
Great stuff. Thanks for the comments. I am learning lots from your wisdom! Susannah you express of beatuifully the fact that we are all so unique and have a responsibility to ourselves and to this world to bring our own selves to everything we do and all that we are. Thank you.
Glad you liked the posts Niamh. And again the idea of being true to yourself really resonates with you.
So let us all commit to being our very best own selves every day!
b
Is this a coincidence? Having worked very hard for the last couple of months I decided that today I would only work for two hours and then go for a long walk to 'assess' where I was at …and…Just before I logged out of my computer I remembered Barbara's blog(I had kept the emails) I had'nt had time to read them 'till today – imagine my surprise when I saw the content of “Living your best Life 2” – exactly what I was to contemplate on my walk…except much much more cleverly put and organised. I think I should print off the blog and bring it with me! Thanks Barbara. Cathy R