With all the ways our very hectic, super busy society has had an impact; I think the deepest cut is into our relationships. We have become conditioned as a culture to live outside of ourselves, profoundly disconnected from the sustaining loving awareness of people and life around us. It’s as if we are in a trance of non-belonging and unworthiness.
I can say with abashed honesty that I have found myself sitting squarely in the center of this challenge over and over. A schedule that kept me leaping, jumping, and running from one place to another, resisting the urge to grab a longer hug or linger gazing at the beauty of nature that I am blessed to have all around me. Then something will happen, usually something I am not very proud of, like snapping at my husband or hiding my distress of disconnection behind some other not very healthy alternative. Zap! I can feel it strike me right at my heart.
We are all imperfect and struggle with finding our way through the challenges that constantly erupt within us and around us day after day. What I know is that we are worthy of making the time to love ourselves and one another, to share belonging in a way that is sustaining
Wake up! Pay attention! I tell myself. Well, actually sometimes I even yell it loudly so I can hear it over the other chatter that clouds my inner knowing. Yes, it’s true. I actually do know how to sit with myself, listen to my heartbeat, shift my perspective, breathe deeply, do less, and love more. And when I embrace all of that, I am a more contented person.
Our relationships, research has shown us, are one of the key habits of happiness.
People who regularly cultivate positive relationships report a higher level of happiness.
It doesn’t matter the size of your friendship circle, it’s the quality of having a small group of trusted, reliable friends. Cultivating these relationships is key to filling the happiness bucket. Enjoying activities together, making plans, laughing, supporting one another through crisis.
We all need a “go to” person or several people that we can provide and receive support from. To me this is outside the arena of social media connections, which aren’t the same as having someone you care about sit with you, look into your eyes, empathize or laugh with you or encourage you to take a deep breath.
There is an abundance of love all around us that when embraced can shake away the fear, detachment and limiting beliefs that prevent us from thriving as we are all meant to do. I invite you to make more time for love. Share it with those closest to you and energetically send it to all those who may need it the most. Bask in its potential, surrender to its place in your life.
