It is the last day of 2016. The Christmas holiday has passed quickly with friends and family, laughter and love. I have tried to take some moments of idle time, reading a book in the sunshine on the balcony under a woollen blanket and a big mug of coffee. Or walking in the nearby forest, breathing in the oxygen loaded fresh air and amiring views of Estern Helsinki shore line, like in the attached photo.
In my last post I already noted the importance of learning to say no to some, even fun things in life, in order to avoid stress and feeling of non-accomplishment. Well, I do need to work harder on that. The months running up to Christmas were hectic, too busy and exhausting. There were news about changes at work, and perhaps too many yoga and mindfulness engagements after work and on the weekends. Then, just days before leaving for holiday, I moved to a new home. Just next door and without furniture, but still, on my own it took four days. Moving is positive stress and I was able to congratulate myself for not having aquiered hardly any unneccessary new things over the two years I lived in the previous apartment. Still, running up and down the 62 steps of the old apartment building was draining.
When one starts a holiday exhausted, it takes a few days before true enjoyment and relaxation sets in. First the body has to recover, so lots of sleep is needed. Good food and company help in the process also. Beautiful Christmas tree and candles slowly calm the mind when one admires the beauty of these lovely decorations.
I am pretty sure I am not the only one feeling exhausted. In her highly praised book The Happiness Track, Emma Seppälä gives good science backed advise on building resilience and tapping into the natural reservoirs of energy that we all have. She says: “Being present makes you more productive and happier.” The idea is not to let the mind race ahead with the long, sometimes unavoidable to do -list, but rather SLOW DOWN and concentrate and focus on each task individually. Unlike commonly believed, when we work and play in the restorative “rest and digest” mode, instead of the stressful “fight or flight”, we are more creative – and successful. Breathing excercises, mindfulness practice and meditation techniques are all helpful tools in achieving this and making it the more natural way of living.
So it is all about being present. “Charisma, simply put, is absolute presence” writes Emma Seppälä. Relationships and health matter, not wealth. This has been known to be true at individual level, but according to a recent study conducted at the London School of Economics this is true also at government level and in societies at large. More effort in wellbeing creation is called for. We can all start with ourselves. So, let’s make 2017 all about PRESENCE.
And remember: the heart is always at peace, it is the mind that wants to fix things. So, why not start living from the heart. And rest. And slow down.
OM SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI.
eevatella 