What are we chasing? Peace? Enlightenment? Clarity? Mindfulness? Like many of you, I
read all of the books and blogs. I obsess over the folks that seem to “have it all figured out.” I meditate, exercise, run, practice breathing exercises, take cold showers, use a sauna daily, have a rock-solid diet and so much more. I do this all in the hopes that one day it will all just click.
I envision that day when the heavens seem to open. My mind is clear. My anxiety is gone. The voice inside my head has been silenced. My senses are hyper-aware. I look out upon a beautiful field and I am one with every single blade of grass. I am no longer a slave to life. Any restraint that held me back has been eliminated as the universe shares with me its secrets.
I mean, that is what we are lead to believe it will be like, right?
Here’s the truth. Those moments of peace, enlightenment, clarity, and mindfulness are fleeting. Here one minute, and gone the next. The expectation that at 20, 30, or 40 years an individual is capable of sustaining these flow states until they pass is utter BS. The sooner you realize that the better off you are.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not advocating that you give up your pursuit of these states of mind. I would argue the opposite. It is just that far too often I found myself frustrated when I was unable to hold on to these feelings for a few hours let alone multiple days.
If I had realized that my expectations were set WAY too high, I could have saved myself the trouble of constantly second-guessing myself and my methods. I was convinced that I was doing something wrong or that I just wasn’t meant to exist at peace.
The reality is that life is hard. To suffer is to live. It is unavoidable. In those moments of suffering, you will be tested. Inevitably, the clarity you enjoyed will turn into a fog that clouds your well-being. Do not give up. Persevere. Embrace the chaos and learn to love the journey back to mindfulness.
We believe in you. Shields up.
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