I asked a dear friend if she could promise me her friendship forever. She said -‘Promises are so easily made. Keeping them usually proves the more difficult’.
I pondered for a while and came to the conclusion that when one endeavors to consistently keep ones word, one usually has a reputation to protect. To some, I suppose their word is one of their most precious and powerful possessions. Also, and this goes for all of us, when we promise more than what we can actually deliver, we actually hurt those who are counting on us.
Very rightfully said then – the path of truth represents the more difficult journey, and embarking on it- builds character! So how do I feel now that I understand it? Pained at the rebuttal, but I will wait and watch.
Originally, Guilt is referred to as the ‘fine’ paid for proven wrongdoing. We all know what it is to have some in our lives, since it makes us feel somehow unforgivable. We as humans, make choices and thus doing so, hurt others in the bargain. We somehow, learn to wallow in guilt and give in to more suffering than is actually needed.
We have to understand that it is a very negative emotion and, and that it is best, when understood and taken care of. Practicing compassion, and self-forgiveness are important in the run of life. So how do I understand this? I would render an apology, and makes some changes. In so doing I would create a sense of healing for myself and the person to whom I may have caused pain.
Learning from one’s own choices, the keynote being-never beat yourself up about anything! I have heard people say that if you believe you are good and you love yourself there will be no place for guilt in your life! I do admit that I have gone through life being highly sensitive. But perhaps I should not say it like its been a curse. It’s just that some people have been born into this world with their eyes and ears wide open. Sensory inputs can invariably cause pleasure and pain.
The trouble with highly sensitive people is that they seem to not have the ability to filter emotions, substances and the sensations that they are bombarded with in everyday life. Yes! They tend to get overwhelmed in crowds and need time alone to recoup when they do. This does not make them a weak breed by any chance. In fact they are known to be strong, perceptive, intuitive, and exceptionally artistic individuals.
They are known to be perceptive of people’s needs, joys and pains. And of course they suffer easily from depression and anxiety. I know I am best in peaceful, harmonious settings that offer strong support. So how would I take care of it? I would create a routine, seek out calming activities, meditate, and use relaxing techniques like Yoga, massage and essential oils. Very clearly-Denying one’s sensitivity can lead to unhappiness!
Our Human Psyche is infinitely complex, as we know it. Almost like an onion, it is made up of layers and layers of thought, experiences, emotions, fears, loves and goals. When we move past the surface we bump into the barriers, and every single one of us has them. While we go through the drill of working through one fear, we stumble on another, and the beat invariably goes on. Though we go through life encountering layer after layer, the mystery yet remains, but the journey is endless.
I read somewhere that the journey to the centre is called Sunyata in Sanskrit and Mu in Chinese, and can be very enlightening. Simply because as we break though one barrier into another, we gain a more profound understanding of our minds. We actually discover the things about ourselves that we buried ages ago. It is known to have been said-The process can continue indefinitely but with self-discovery comes growth!
Dwelling in the past and contemplating on the future are our favorite pastimes. What we do not realize is that it is physically impossible to live anywhere but in the present tense. There is only-Now! And how do I stay in the present moment? By staying completely aware, open and receptive to emotions and experiences around me. Being in the now requires a lot of our attention. They say-Life happens to us when we happen to it in the now.
People push their emotions away. We choose not to face our pain, anger and any other intense feelings, and these in turn get buried deep into our physical bodies. By simply allowing ourselves to experience our emotions, can help us come to terms with ourselves. What do I do with the feelings that I have pushed aside? I wait for a quiet time, analyze the experiences that triggered that particular pain, come to terms with it, either cry it out, or sound it out to someone who cares and then put a lid on it.
They say-Acknowledging your feelings instead of pushing them away allows you to stay healthy and in touch with yourself emotionally. We so often think that happiness can be got from being in the right relationship, finding the right job, driving the right car, acquiring a new gadget, dress, jewelry, losing weight, basically maintaining this so called image.
This has become a common problem these days, where we search for happiness on the outside. In so doing, we get caught up in our desires, and conveniently go on to ignoring the simple joys in our everyday lives. How do I cope with the feeling that-the grass is greener on the other side? I list all the 100 reasons that I have to be thankful for, waiting for the joy to hit me from the inside.
I believe it when I hear that-Unhappiness inspired by what you do not have is easy to overcome when you open your eyes to the wonderful things already present in your life.
I have had days when I have just wanted to crawl under a rock and hide from the world. We all have days when we have wanted to be invisible. In actuality those days are the ones that we want to hide from ourselves. But the way we were made, none of us was meant to hide, since each one of us is brilliant enough to illuminate the world.
We each have responsibilities to serve our community, and this happens when we put ourselves out there. We are all beings of light. We are not here having a spiritual experience, but quite the contrary; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. So it is rightfully said-Cast your light into the world, and bless those around you by sharing your gifts, and watch the universe glow.
All the events in our lives lead to something more somewhere else. We don’t necessarily understand every experience that we go through. Most of the threads in these circumstances are woven together to create our current reality. In instances when we feel directionless, and when all the pieces of our life do not fit in the puzzle we should remember that there is definitely a hidden reason for the turmoil. Did I hear someone say-Life is full of buried treasures. Chances are you are sitting on some right now.
Previously published in the Sindhian
