7 REMINDERS that keep me on the path to peace and freedom

Try as we might to avoid them, some emotions continue to creep up on us and pay us an uninvited visit — fear, anger, jealousy, embarrassment, resentment, scarcity. They are all part of life and learning. They’re not always bad, but they can pull us off course and deter us from our true self and intentions. It’s important to listen to our feelings, be open and honest with ourselves about them, give ourselves the chance to feel them, and communicate them to others when necessary. Denying them or stuffing them, only makes them grow. It’s possible they may be leading us toward something our heart is needing. For example, we may not like feeling lonely or have a hard time talking about it, but it can lead us to connection, if we let it.

There are times that thoughts get the best of us. Times that stress, fear, anxiety, or exhaustion take over, leading to irrationality. Those feelings are usually liars. In those times, there are a few reminders that can bring us back to center, where our heart and soul are in the driver’s seat, keeping us on the path to peace and freedom.

Here are some of my favorites.

When I’m feeling internal pressure to be perfect, push harder, or get more done, this is a helpful reminder. Of course I’m not perfect. It’s not fair to expect myself to be. I’m entirely done “hustling for my worthiness.” (Thank you for that Ah Ha! Brené Brown.) Longer to-do lists and great achievements don’t necessarily make me a better person. Often they just make me worn out mentally, physically, and emotionally. That doesn’t help anyone.

There is enough good for everyone. There is enough money for everyone. There is enough achievement for everyone. There is enough joy for everyone. You name it, there is enough. I not only want to celebrate the achievements of others, but also help them get there. I can’t do that if I get caught up in that icky feeling of scarcity, causing me to feel a tinge of jealousy for another’s accomplishments. This reminder helps me when I get off track. Knowing there’s enough for everyone, means there’s even enough for me too, and it gives me confidence in taking steps toward freedom in my life.

Enough said…pretty much. When I’m angry, taking things personally, feeling resentful, or having trouble with trust, I do myself a service by taking a deep breath and choosing to act from a place of love.

The world around us often presents things as black or white these days, as good or bad. This is a powerful tool in advertising, politics, fitness, etc., as it incites fear and judgement. Making decisions out of fear is not a good idea, unless you find yourself on a path with a grizzly bear, and even then it’s questionable. I find that things are rarely black and white. Most often, there are many, many shades of gray. I use this reminder when I hear myself labeling things, people, or situations as good or bad. It’s a helpful reminder when I’m judging others too, a quick way to open the door to empathy.

This is such Pollyanna thinking, (If you don’t know that movie reference, you better figure it out!) but it’s so true. The more I look for the good in the world, the more I find it. I know it seems so obvious when stated as such. I can still find myself complaining about the town I live in, the state of such and such, parents these days, or any number of things people complain about. You know what happens when I complain about the town I live in? I continue to find more and more wrong with it. BUT if I want to find good parents and good things happening in the world, there’s plenty of that going around too. A funny thing happens when you start looking for the things you want to see, you find them. Maybe not right next door, but at least down the street. Eventually, you see far more of the “good”, and far less of the “bad”. I call out the good. I look for the good. Eventually, the good comes looking for me too.

So much that happens around us is out of our control. We only control our own actions, words, and deeds. The way others interpret, react to, and share what we say and do isn’t in our hands at all. In fact, it’s really none of our business. Because I’m searching for true connection these days, I have to remind myself to live in trust. When I live in trust, I do and say the things my soul is calling me to do. I can do them without worrying about what people think of them or me or what they might tell other people about me or what I’ve said or done. I can act from a place of authenticity with far less fear, anxiety, and regret, and I don’t waste nearly as much time worrying about how others are acting or treating me. I allow myself to trust that they are doing the best they can as well. This creates lasting connections and lessons that allow me to continue on my path of learning and growth, to lead a life of fulfillment and freedom.

I find joy in serving others. I’ve often felt called to do what I can to better the lives of others, and I know my life is also better for it. Sometimes, as a wife, mother, and community member, I feel OBLIGATED to serve. That’s OK, but not when I’m a martyr about it. Truly, nobody needs a martyr. If I volunteer to coach my kid’s t-ball team, but then walk around with my shoulders slumped and complain about how busy I am to the other parents, I’ve done no one any good. I could have said no. I could have asked another parent/s for help, or I could have chosen not to complain. If I’m serving because I want the recognition, sympathy, or accolades of others, I’m best not serving at all. Nobody needs a martyr, and hopefully reminding myself of that is helping me be one a lot less often. I would much rather be the “trickster”, as Elizabeth Gilbert puts it.

Related posts:

The Binance Smart Chain, Ethereum, and Polygon blockchains are used by Poly Network. In what is the largest defi breach in history, the latest attack hit each chain in turn, totaling over $600…

This course is something that I should have taken in a way that I met a lot of wonderful and amazing people. I appreciate every conversation we shared and what we talked about. It was precious. This…