The essential need for healthy living is balance.When we are balanced we are centred and grounded in reality rather than being continually anxious and panicked.The key to this is living the reflective life, when we develop our reflective skills we can connect all the parts of our being mind body and spirit, now this is not an overnight process, but a discipline which has to be learned.
In today’s world maintaining such discipline is difficult, to say the least, as we do not always know where we are from moment to moment. It is however really important to be determined to focus and rest in our breath. Isn’t it exciting to think that as we go about day by day our breath is travelling with us and through us carrying the necessary oxygen through us that we need. Sorry for being so simplistic, but so much is to the fore about breathing at the moment it seems important to highlight this, but also to add that when we are focused and grounded the amazing body which we possess can have the opportunity to connect in all it’s parts. Of course we can have illnesses which put us out of kilter but we may still be able to draw on reflective practices for our support and guidance.
There are many definitions of contemplative practices but, for me, it seems that being centred grounded and focused provides the space to contemplate and consider options and coping strategies.
History mindfulness and mindlessness are important in the above context. If you have a mental illness always consult your health professional. The traumatic impact of the pandemic has caused much regression in the global population, we can’t spend our day sitting as hermit’s contemplating our navels, no insult intended, so we tend to rush out and about in ‘Our zombie self’ to get things done and get back to safety.
So, in my view, its like this, My history is an important issue in managing my life, but perhaps more now in this crisis, as we must choose our approach to the current life situations, in a safe way for us. We need coping strategies to keep us in the ‘hear and now’and allow us to use a mindful approach to life. When out and about using our minds to observe everything around us and experience it with our senses.
Mindlessness is useful for reducing anxiety, and is part of our daily living where we have learned to do things automatically. So to conclude this reflection mindfulness, mindlessness and history have an important role in focusing and managing our daily living be aware of bringing them into balance.
I feel the above has real importance due to the isolation caused by the pandemic and the need for social distancing. In John Donne’s famous poem ‘No man is an Island’ he makes the point ‘No man is an island entire in himself’ ——– Everyone needs community, and now this central need which we met automatically within our culture does’t feel entirely safe, How do we overcome this?
It’s quite true no man is an island but he/she can develop an island, in terms of reflective space, within them and come up with innovative ideas for current living have you noticed this?
BREATHE!
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 