Uncharted Territory

When we are lost, we typically look at a map to figure out where we are and how to get to our chosen destination. This works well, assuming that there is a map of the territory in which we find ourselves, and assuming that we know our destination. However, this is not always the case. At this time in human history, we are all venturing into uncharted territory, whether we know it or not. And as individuals, we may find ourselves covering ground that our predecessors never even knew existed. When we look to them for guidance, they often come up short. Not knowing exactly where we are, we find ourselves unsure of which way to go, and eventually the uneasy feeling that we are lost presents itself.

The beauty of being lost is the same thing that makes it scary—it asks us to look within ourselves to find the way. If we have no map, we must go on instinct, relying on our inner compass to show us which way to go. This can be scary because so much seems to be riding on it. We fear we might go too far in the wrong direction, or become paralyzed and make no progress at all. And yet, this is the very challenge we need to develop our ability to trust ourselves. We are also learning to trust that the universe will support and guide us. We may believe this intellectually, but it is only through experience that it becomes knowledge of the heart. Learning to be okay with being lost and trusting that we will be guided, we begin our journey.

We can support ourselves by confirming that we don’t need to know exactly where we are going in order to take our first steps. We are learning to feel our own way, rather than following an established path, and in doing so we learn to trust ourselves. It is this trust that connects us to the universe and reminds us that no matter how lost we feel, and even as we journey, on the inner level we are already home.

Still Your Mind

Your busy work schedule may make things seem hectic today. Since you may have much to do, you could become overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Calming your mind today might help you slow down enough to get everything taken care of and also to feel more at peace with yourself and your life. Perhaps you can take a few minutes each hour to become attuned to your breath. While breathing deeply, you may want to picture all the tensions in your life that affect you, and as you exhale imagine them dissipating into nothingness. Using your breath in this way could make your day seem to go by faster and with greater ease. You might even notice that your work schedule no longer seems as frenetic.

Our breath is a wonderful tool for stilling our minds. Even when our lives seem chaotic, our situation is most often a product of the ways in which our minds react to our external world. As we bring breath into our bodies, we are inhaling prana, or life energy, which allows us to focus our thoughts and at the same time energize our bodies and mind so that we may accomplish our tasks. Once our minds become peaceful, we begin to realize that there is very little in life that is an emergency, and we become better able to prioritize our responsibilities as a result. By making use of the power of your breath to quiet your mind today, it will be easier to concentrate on your tasks without becoming weighed down by them.

Awaiting The Future

The times of waiting in between the big events actually constitute the majority of our lives. These in-between times are anything but uneventful. In fact, they are rich with possibility and filled with opportunities for reflection and preparation. You must remain fully engaged in the present as you await your future, savoring the in-between time as a vital experience in itself.

Wise

If you are afraid to fail or afraid to lose, you will never achieve. You have to live free.

Devoting Time To A Peaceful Mind-Set

Devoting time to a peaceful mind-set and a rested body helps us feel stronger, more balanced, and able to handle stress on a daily basis. When we are feeling strong and centered, we handle stress much more easily than when we are run down or already laboring under a heavy load. If we can make an effort to keep releasing our stress on a regular basis and avoid letting it build up inside of us, we are able to retain a much more positive outlook. We then go about our daily activities with a stronger sense of peace and harmony, which helps us to effectively handle new stressors as they arrive. As you focus on releasing tension today, you are restoring your positive mind-set and enabling yourself to deal with stress in a healthy way.