Slow down. Find meaning in the mundane rather than looking far afield. For it is in the everyday playing out of life that the meaning you seek will be experienced. It is not every day that the extraordinary occurs, but it is in the ordinary and seemingly mundane that the moments of highest meaning will be found, for who has not found the extraordinary in the beauty of a single day, in the sun’s warm light, the flower’s first bloom, the smell of fresh rain, the sound of a bird calling, the gentle touch of fresh grass. Be satisfied with what is, for that is where the Divine lives.
Let not fear detract from the enjoyments of life, for though things may be in turmoil the simple things still matter, the little things that truly make life joyful. When all else falls away, that which you once counted on for entertainment, look at all that you are still left with; the stars above you, the earth beneath you, the wind in your hair, the rain on your cheek, the sun at your back. Who needs more than these gifts of nature to feel a sense of pleasure? Who needs more than these powerful reminders of all that truly matters? Find nature, within and without. In simple joys, find solace. In nature find the true peace you seek. In nature, find the freedom you so desire.
Let things go, as you turn fully in a new direction now. Without regret, let go of that which is no longer important, of that which holds you back, especially of fear. Fear pervades all. It complicates life, though it is no more than a set of ideas, impediments to freedom, to truth, and to knowing your full potential. Let bygones be bygones, memories in the dusty past, while you turn openhearted in a new direction, toward that which holds promises of love, kindness, and compassion, the greatest riches you will ever find, so simple and so free.
Lead a simple and modest life, uncomplicated by too much, by overdoing, by greed or need, or constant desires that do not fit the life you are in. With simplicity comes a certain kind of fulfillment that must be experienced. In simplifying life, without denying and without neglecting all that you are and need, find solace, gratitude, and caring that rise far above a life filled with too much of everything. Explore simplicity and what that might mean for you so that your life may be calm and uncomplicated and yet fulfilling and satisfying. In its own way, simplicity means abundance.
Here is a helpful message from Jeanne. Can you do deeper? She offers some practical tips on how to begin a deepening inner process.
A moment of solace… – Photo by Jan Ketchel
Find solace in simplicity, in the offerings of a simple life. You do not need all that you think you need. Begin to pare down, naturally, by questioning the self: Do I really need this?
Find the means to communicate regularly with and regarding the consumer self. Question: What does the consumer self really need over what are the desires of that self? Need and desire are two different things. I do not recommend austerity but balance, for even in simplicity is there abundance if one learns and hones the skills necessary to experience life in both its simplicity and its abundance.
Seek calmness and quiet in order to more readily communicate with the deeper self, in order to access the truths of the self, especially regarding need and desire. It is in these truths that one will discover what simplicity and balance mean, what simplicity and abundance look like in the context of an innerly rich life fully lived in that world.
To fully experience the richness of inner and outer life, balancing simplicity and abundance, one must slow down, be patient, watchful, and attentive. One must seek a non-judgmental attitude, freed of self-criticism, without anger or petulance. One must become a mature, responsible being, attentive to self and other, and nature as well. That is how to begin to simplify and seek a new self in the fullness of all that life offers.
Do not be afraid to give and receive, to be kind to self and other, to express love for your fellow human being, though he/she may be fallible and judgmental. Know that you too are capable of turning your back on the truth even as you see others do so. Investigate the self even as you investigate others. Find balance in being honest with the self. Start there. Then add the skills of simplicity, a little more each day: calmness, quiet mind, patient waiting, questioning of what is a need and what is a desire.
Begin to make new choices as you practice simplicity. Discover that solace will naturally flow into your life. It really works as you do your inner work, for that is really the crux of change, doing the deeper inner work. I encourage you all to go a little deeper every day. Find solace in knowing that, if you do so, you are changing not only the self but the entire world, one step and one moment at a time. In this manner, you can make a difference.
Slow down and make some wise decisions about the self today, and then do the same tomorrow and the day after that. Seek discipline and maturity, as these are the keys to success!
