Focuing on Self
After graduating from school, we pour our energies into our work and careers. We focus our energies on the needs of our clients and our work, often at the expense of our personal needs. When we don’t receive the acknowledgments and promotions that we feel we deserve, we rant and rave in our mind about how life is so unfair, how nobody really cares, it’s all too much, and it’s all hopeless. Yet even when we are recognized for our contributions and accomplishments, we often feel embarrassed and try to hide or downplay our contributions. We take these actions so that we don’t have to focus attention on ourselves. These actions allow us to continue to spin in our stories about how life is unfair and how we give and give and never get anything in return. Does this sound familiar?
The reason we feel empty inside is because we are too busy focusing our energies on everything “outside” of ourselves (e.g., our family, our job, our friends, our country, the environment, etc.) so that we don’t have to focus on what is inside of us - our inner self. If we are so busy giving to others that we neglect to give to ourselves, then how do we continue to give when there is nothing left to give?
The Universal Law of Balance states that we must give equally to ourselves that we give to others. Only then are we truly balanced. Giving equally to ourselves means taking care of our emotional, mental and physical needs. It means eating at least three healthy meals everyday, getting enough rest, exercising daily, and spending time alone to meditate or to just relax.
As we direct more of our energies inward, we will recognize our true inner self. We will come to appreciate our experiences more and know that we have the power to create whatever experiences we wish to have. We will remember that we are in control of our lives and life does not control us. In the process, we will become more alert, balanced and relaxed. Our internal rants will become less and less until they fade away. Now wouldn’t that be a pleasant experience.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
To keep my life in balance, I eat healthy(95% of the time), exercise daily, keep a positive attitude and make it a point to doing something that I really enjoy doing everyday. For me it can be doing reading on my favorite subjects(outside of work), learning something new or creating something beautiful with my hands. You will have your own list of things that you enjoy doing to create “flow” experience. These “flow experience” will brings you joy, reduce stress and add new dimensions to your life. Keep in mind that we have to be physically and mentally well before we can serve others well.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:02 am
I agree. This doesn’t mean that we don’t care about others. It just means that we need to take care of ourselves first. When we are on an airplane, the flight attendant tells us that in the case of an emergency and the oxygen masks drop down, we are to first place the oxygen mask on ourselves before helping to put them on the children. The reason is that if we faint from lack of oxygen, we won’t be able to help anyone else. This should be the prime directive. (A reference to Star Trek).
June 13th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Hi, interest post. I’ll write you later about few questions!