Modern day living can be so exhausting.
The nonstop activity coupled with the nonstop bombardment of information makes for an exhausting combo. One that is particularly bad for our mental and emotional health. I think I read somewhere that nonstop stimulation is the equivalent physically of working out in a gym continuously.
As in, we’re just not made to have our eyes, ears, minds and hearts continuously filled with words, pictures, noise and general stimulation. It is quite seriously bad for our health. At least it is for mine. The older I get the more I seek out the sound of silence and the surroundings of the sublime so freely on offer in nature.
However, whilst I released myself from corporate captivity along with striving for more materialistic stuff, many moons ago, I do regularly fall in to the trap of not carving out sufficient space to be.
I try.
I take frequent trips to the coast because I feel like I can simply be and allow my soul to breathe there. In fact, as I discovered courtesy of the blue lagoon a few weeks back, being by any kind of water slows me down to a delicious and welcome standstill that allows me to process all that is within rather than mindlessly filling myself with more and more.
In fact I read an article last week that my neighbour posted for me. It was titled ‘Vitamin Sea’. In it a Dr Sarah Brewer says, “Coastal zones, in particular, benefit wellbeing. An ocean view, for example, evokes emotions including longing and awe. Other blue zones such as lakes and rivers have a beneficial impact on stress, blood pressure and lifting mood…”.
It’s official!
What I have discovered through my regular jaunts to the sea is actually backed up scientifically. Although I can’t help but think this stuff is just good old fashioned common sense really. I’m sure I can recall reading a similar article on what is now called forest bathing which to you and I means walking in naturally tree clad green zones!
Of course we didn’t have to be told these things years ago as folk naturally spent more time outside and less time inside in front of the modern day time and health thiefs: TV, boxsets, gaming and the internet.
Anyway, as I pondered all these things I noticed that I was allowing the TV to command way too much of my evening space. I was left with a sense of every piece of space being filled by something. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was left desperately searching for more space.
And so, over the bank holiday, I made a decision to reduce my time in front of the TV, I said no to a few things, I parked a few things I wanted to do but that could wait, I stripped my commitments right back and I gave myself the gift of time and space to simply be. No rushing, no striving, no excess doing, no filling myself up with anything else, just an abundance of space to be.
The result was on a parallel with holding your breath under water for a long time and then arising to take a huge gulp of breath. Utterly life giving!! And unexpectedly Pringle-esque. The more I tasted that space to breath, the more I wanted!! I just couldn’t get enough of it. And so, I’ve had regular and extended periods of simply being throughout this week.
It has allowed me to catch up with myself again. Instead of filling my mind and heart with more TV, internet, reading or doing, I have consciously chosen to be still and allow myself to process what was backed up inside me rather than hurling more in.
Novel but necessary.
It’s a bit like our physical bodies. We can’t just throw in more and more food. We have to stop eating to allow our bodies to digest and process what is already there, to relinquish what is not needed and make space for the process to continue. In fact, the latest diet favourites include fasting plans that give your body a total break from digesting food, to effectively allow the system to re-boot.
Having created more space generally, I also found the energy to create more physical space by tackling all those stress inducing areas of my home that are too full. From the wardrobe to kitchen cupboards to the shoe rack and my dvd’s. I got in to brutal mode and removed a whole heap of stuff, resulting in much rubbish as well as a few sacks for the charity shop.
It felt good and I felt lighter.
But as satisfying as creating more space in the house was, it was the extra mental and emotional space that felt truly liberating. As this last week, I have effectively made the space to allow my mind, heart and soul to re-boot.
And it feels good!