Riding the River of Life
July 27th, 2009
WORD COUNT: 833 Short, Yet Mellow Words
TIME to Peaceful Productivity: * 4 Tiny Minutes *
Imagine that you’re on a tumultuous river. The water is churning and moving swiftly. To safely navigate this river requires intense concentration, strength, and a good life jacket! As you ride this river, you initially feel excitement. But over time, the rapid pace would wear out even the fittest, and most adventurous among us. Eventually, you’d be exhausted. For there’d be little time for reflection or enjoyment, because you’d always be battling the river, and working at a stressful pace in order to ensure your safety.
Now imagine you are navigating a river with a gentler current. It may speed up occasionally. So you feel the thrill of the ride, but its kinder pace allows you to enjoy the journey. As you flow downstream, you notice an eagle soaring overhead. You look to your right, and see a fawn drinking from the riverbank.
You notice a light breeze, stillness, and peace. Yet you’re always moving gently on the river of your life, toward your desired destination. And at any time, you can paddle over to the shore to rest, or take in the local sites.
Which river appeals to you? The one that allows you to control your destination, and relax into your journey… or the river that takes you where it wants to go, and takes everything you’ve got to survive?
Many people unknowingly live on the wild river day in and day out, in high-stress, nonstop activity and thought.
Yet the sun shines on both bodies of water, the raging river and the calmer waterway. The light shimmers on both surfaces. And the water can be pristine and clear in both bodies of water.
But you can only see into the depths of the calmer river. You can only relax and reflect in gentler waters. For to do so on a raging river would bring disaster.
Pushing ourselves with continuous stimulation and harried activity creates a mental atmosphere much like the raging river.
It’s almost impossible to see into the depths of a wild river. And it’s impossible to find peace, or clarity in a mind that is never still.
When we feel overwhelmed, confused or agitated…these are signals from the soul… to cultivate moments of solitude to calm the mind and feed the spirit.
For this is the only way we can we find peace. True wisdom comes from the depths of calm waters. For when the river is raging, we can not feel truth, or connect with simple solutions. Moments of peace, allow us to enjoy our journey.
Happiness requires us to live in integrity with what our Inner Being is telling us. But we can not hear the wisdom of our Higher Self, when we allow no time for reflection or ease.
Thinking and doing without respite, is a lot like taking a ride on a wild river, every day. Pretty soon the river is taking us where it wants to go, and we are no longer navigating.
Clarity come from stillness. Peace and understanding walk hand in hand. It is in peaceful solitude that we discover our deepest truths.
Thankfully we don’t have to retreat to a mountaintop to find inner tranquility, or to connect with our inner wisdom!
As you journey through your week, give yourself an invigorating assignment. Make it your goal to claim a few moments each day to calm the mind and nourish your soul!
As we add more time for peace and quiet reflection, we are able to:
- Resolve questions and issues faster and more effectively
- Experience more balance and ease
- Connect with greater clarity
- Avoid pitfalls and miscommunications
- Enjoy more of our journey!
With a bit of minor tuning, you can easily integrate respites throughout your day. Here are a few ideas. Try one or a few, and then observe how your days unfold in the week ahead.
1. Turn off the phone for 5 to 10 minutes every day. Just Be.
2. Take a brief walk and listen to the birds singing to you!
3. Close your eyes. Take three gentle, deep breaths and release tension. Breathe in peace, release stress. Do this throughout the day… before answering an email, starting a project, or having an important conversation.
4. Reset the mood with some soothing music, playing in the background… as you delight in your work.
5. Light a candle and watch the flame dance, or enjoy the subtle fragrance.
6. Spend time alone for a few minutes in the middle of your day. Go for a drive, or sit in your car if you have to.
7. Look to nature for nurture every chance you can!
8. Find something to appreciate in the next person you meet.
9. Look at your home or work area, as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Can you add plants, pictures, inspiring messages, or a bit of comic relief to nourish your soul?
10. Schedule a couple of breaks for “me time”. Then take them… away from your desk!
Live from the heart, and think with the mind!
Your friend and partner in inspired living,
Copyright© Laura Cardone 2009. All Rights Reserved. This is a Daily Discovery Series edition. www.profitswithpurpose.com is for progressive thinkers, conscious business owners and other adventurous souls who are redefining success ~ celebrate your life!
