by Connie Habash | May 11, 2026 | Compassion, Healing, Suffering
How do we embrace life as well as suffering and death?
This week, I began writing a blog about suffering, and I stopped myself. It felt too vulnerable… too difficult to talk about.
It seems that there is always suffering in the world – whether it is war, disasters, shootings, pandemics, ICE raids, etc.
No one really wants to talk about death and suffering. Yet it is all around us; we often don’t notice unless it comes close to home (or we are fed the images on TV or social media).
In nature, death is fully apparent but we don’t pay much attention. A large fallen Douglas Fir tree across a stream; a dried up earthworm on the cement, caught in the open after a rainstorm; a hawk catches a field mouse and brings it back to the nest for two hungry babies. The dead leaves on the forest floor are crushed beneath our feet as we walk.
Natural Death vs. Human-Caused Harm
Yet there is a difference between these natural deaths and these unnatural events of human device. A part of us can understand and somewhat accept the death of an old tree or one animal in order to feed another. But crimes of hate? War? Brutality and abuse? Rape? Sometimes it seems like all too much, and we ask why? Why that person? Why now? Why that violent act?
People often ask me what I think – why do these things happen? And my honest answer is that I don’t know. We can try to come up with explanations and investigations to discover motives, rectifications to attempt to prevent such future horrors. We can explain it by some spiritual platitudes or psychological analysis. But it still doesn’t change the fact that these things happened, and continue to happen around the world.
All I can offer, and all I can do (short of a march, a letter to a congressperson, words of protest, volunteering for an organization, writing an op-ed), is feel and accept what has happened and how it has impacted me. To share compassion with those in pain. To help them hold their own hearts tenderly as they grieve and allow the waves of pain to wash through until they have finished pounding the beach of the heart.
Holding Compassion for Ourselves and Others
Besides the actions we feel we need to take in the world to prevent future harm, the work we do within ourselves to heal from these traumas is of utmost importance. To work through what they may trigger within us from our past. To share our compassion and empathy with the victims. To help these “victims” find their empowerment again.
And to share compassion, too, with the perpetrators. I’m not unique in expressing this: until we can have love and compassion for everyone, then we cannot truly stop the pain in this world. The pain comes from lack of love, lack of compassion, lack of connection. My sense, as other spiritual leaders have expressed, is that those who inflict pain are suffering inside, especially from a deep rift of disconnection with others.
Returning to Connection – with Self, Others, and Spirit
This is the plague of our modern society: disconnection. It is not a simple solution. It will take more time than probably our lifetimes to change. But we must heal the deep disconnection in our culture by making conscious effort to connect to others… friends, neighbors, strangers, people similar and people very different from us. And conscious effort to connect to ourselves.
Everything that I do is, ultimately, focused on healing this rampant sense of disconnection and returning us to deeply connect with each other in community, to connect to the Earth (that’s a whole other topic!), to connect to our very own selves, and to connect to Spirit.
If that touches you in some profound or gentle way, I am here for you. Whether online or in person, let me know where you feel disconnected and how you want to heal. For we are truly all connected by something beyond what we can see or touch… we are connected by the Divine itself, by the Source of Life that gave rise to you and me and all life here.
May the Divine enfold you with deep love and compassion… and may you receive it deeply into your heart.
Wherever you feel disconnected or in pain, there is a path back to connection. Explore Counseling (if you’re in California) or Spiritual Mentoring and take a step toward healing and inner support.
by Connie Habash | Jan 28, 2022 | Compassion, Meditation, Self-Care, Suffering, Yoga Philosophy
This post is the first of a 9-part series on the 9 obstacles to spiritual practice, from verse 1:30 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras:
vyādhistyānasanśaya pramādālasyāvirati bhrāntidarśanālabdha bhūmikatvānavasthitatvāni cittavikṣēpāstē̕ntarāyāḥ |
Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, worldliness, delusion, non-achievement of a yogic state, and instability are the distractions of the mind, and they are obstacles [in yoga].
Anyone who has been on the path of spiritual growth knows that obstacles are part of the journey. We all have things that get in the way of practicing meditation, yoga, prayer, or any other form of connecting with the Divine. For that matter, obstacles are part of life, and if we don’t want them to hinder our endeavors, it’s helpful to recognize what they are and what we can do to overcome them.
According to the sage Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras and preeminent yoga philosopher, there are 9 of these obstacles to our spiritual awakening. The first one is the most obvious: Vyadhi, or physical illness.
It’s so obvious that any kind of physical disease or injury can be an obstacle to practice that we may take a cursory look at this and move on to the next obstacle. But it’s worth a closer look.
The Importance of Asana
Certainly, whether we have a short-term cold, a longer injury like a sprained ankle, or a more debilitating illness, the physical body is difficult to tolerate when it’s uncomfortable. That’s why practice of asana, or physical poses, has been an important part of the yogic path for centuries, if not thousands of years.
The postures are intended to keep the organs healthy, circulation optimal, and maintain strength and flexibility of the muscles and connective tissues. This reduces physical suffering, increases health, and sets the stage for meditating with more ease.
No One is Perfectly Healthy All the Time
Try as we can, however, we won’t be perfectly healthy and out of pain all the time. Sometimes we’ll hit our funny bone, get a cold or flu, or wake up with a stiff and tight neck. And occasionally, we may contract a more serious illness or long-term condition that causes us discomfort and pain.
As a result, we may experience suffering which distracts us from steady, consistent, focused practice. Our mind gets agitated and full of thoughts about our distress. Our attention goes to our body, to the places that hurt, rather than our focus on meditation or prayer. Emotions are triggered, and it’s easy to become despondent, fearful, frustrated, and worried.
This is natural – no one likes to be in pain and discomfort. Physical distress is one of the biggest triggers for our emotional issues. So it’s helpful to be prepared when vyadhi, physical illness, arises.
Self-Care and Flexibility
First of all, have a regular self-care practice. Know what helps you to feel more physical ease. Regular exercise, relaxation, taking time to simply be without anything on the agenda, spending time in nature, and talking to a friend when you’re struggling – all of these things can increase your resilience when you’re physically challenged. What works for you?
Also, be flexible. Let’s take meditation, for example. If you aren’t feeling well, do you need to adjust your sitting position, or perhaps lie down to meditate instead? Let go of rigidity about it. Yes, it’s important to be consistent with your spiritual practice and in many spiritual traditions, following a protocol is essential. But we also need to learn to be flexible. Discover how you can practice when you’re in pain, rather than just “I can’t do this”. What can you adjust to make it more accessible, so you don’t give up on it?
Self-Compassion
Then, practice Presence and self-compassion. The focus of your meditation, for instance, can turn towards the place in you that is hurting (whether physical, emotional, or mental). If your low back is throbbing, pause and be present with it; fully aware of it and attentive to it, but with a quiet mind. Let go of any stories you have about that condition, while you open your heart to your back, just as you would for a dear friend.
Breathe gently into the place of suffering, and turn caring attention towards it. You can even talk to it compassionately: “I can see that you’re suffering, back. I’m here with you. I care and I’m listening to you.” Indeed, you can listen to the part of you that is hurting. It may have a lot to say.
Listen
That communication from your back can be in words, like “I need you to pay better attention”, or it may communicate in images, emotions, memories, or other sensations. “Listen” with your heart and simply witness and acknowledge what it says. Write it down. Then, thank your back or whatever is uncomfortable, and become present again with your breath.
You may discover that the sensations have shifted, perhaps even eased up a bit. Thank that part of you for its message and for bringing it to your attention. Then, return to your meditation practice or whatever spiritual practice you are doing.
Resilience Increases
Often, when we take the time to acknowledge our pain with compassion, care, and understanding, something in us relaxes. It also increases our resilience: we learn that we can be with that tension or ache, at least for some time. It doesn’t have to stop us from the heart of our spiritual practices.
When you’re ready to return to your meditation, allow the discomfort to sit in the background of your awareness – just as you probably would with your thoughts, too. Turn your attention to your desired focus, which might be your breath, a mantra, or simply witness consciousness. Whenever you find yourself distracted by the sensations, give them a kind acknowledgment and then return, again and again, to what you’re practicing.
Physical pain and disease – vyadhi – is one of the most challenging obstacles to spiritual practice, and that’s probably why it’s mentioned first in the Yoga Sutras. Tend to your body and keep up your self-care (especially your yoga asana!), and learn to be flexible. Remember to remain in the present moment with your sensations, respond to them with compassion, and listen to their wisdom. Then, you’ll be able to turn your attention back to your practice with a bit more ease and confidence that you can persist, whatever obstacles arise.
by Connie Habash | Jul 14, 2020 | Acceptance, Attachment, Challenges, Choices, Contentment, Destiny, Determination, Nonattachment, Suffering, Yoga Philosophy
Spiritual, psychological, and yogic insights from Hamilton, an iconic musical so applicable to our times.
Like millions of others over the 4th of July weekend, I watched – for the first time! – the Broadway hit musical, Hamilton. I knew it would be great, but had no idea how much it would impact me, and the many insights it revealed about my life and our world, right now. As the song from the musical says, “History Has Its Eyes on You” and me, as I’ll explain below.
Beyond the amazing music, acting, choreography, set, and costumes, so many themes, both personal and spiritual, emerged for me from this theatrical experience. It touched deep emotions and issues that resurfaced from this story about Alexander Hamilton’s life.
Just in case you don’t know, Alexander Hamilton was one of the “founding fathers” of the United States of America. He isn’t talked about as much because he was never a President (as an immigrant, he never could be), but his face does make the $10 bill due to being our first Secretary of the Treasury. His life was as fascinating as it was impactful on the beginnings of our nation – making a powerful story to convey through a musical, much to the surprise of many when it first debuted.
This is a bit of a different blog post than I usually write (and longer, too), and I have to admit that it swam around in me for over a week and I resisted. I avoided and was overwhelmed. It touched old pain in me, and also old patterns that I thought I had laid to rest long ago. I feel that by writing this, I’m helping to close those chapters again and put to rest my obsession for the last week and a half with this story.
I won’t be able to tell you the full tale, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth it. Here’s my insights that arose for me from watching it (with references to the songs so you can have some of your own experience).
Is it Destiny? Is it Determination?
Hamilton begins with a bit of personal history about how he grew up, which lays context for how and why he does what he does with his life. The first lines of the musical:
How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore
And a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
In the Caribbean by providence impoverished
In squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?
His father left him when he was 10, his mother died two years later, he moved in with his cousin and his cousin committed suicide. Wow. What a painful beginning to life, and a testament to how he pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, against all adversity. He immigrated to the United States from the Carribean to make a name for himself and contribute to the American Revolution.
His fervor for pursuing both his principles and notoriety were fueled by this spirit of surviving and thriving in him. It was principle, but also pride. His hubris took him very far in influence and the public eye, but also was his undoing.
He wondered why he had lived, when others around him died. It brings up a question of destiny vs. determination. Did he will himself to survive, even through a hurricane? It seems that both were in play.
We are often, in spiritual circles, playing with these ideas – of “creating your reality” or being affected by karma. Through Hamilton, we can see them both manifest; he survives through tremendous adversity that is out of his control – perhaps fate? – but clearly creates both his great success (as the theme of the song “My Shot” reprises throughout the musical) and his ultimate demise through insistence on speaking his full and complete truth.
His Adversary – and Flip Side of the Coin
Aaron Burr – Hamilton’s first friend in America, and eventual enemy – plays a pivotal role in the musical, and ultimately, in Hamilton’s life and death. Just as ambitious as Hamilton, Burr takes a very different tactic to work towards his goals: restraint. He tries not to ruffle any feathers, smiles, talks less, and tries to figure out what other people want from him.
Burr is stunned – and jealous – by Alexander’s meteoric rise to fame and power from sheer determination and deftness with the pen. But Burr sticks by his philosophy to “Wait for It.” He’s willing to be patient, bide his time, and trust that he’ll eventually receive the accolades he desperately longs for (and the woman he is in love with, too).
Raga and Dvesha, At It Again
At first, I thought there was merit in Burr’s patience. After all, it is a spiritual quality, no? But looking more deeply, as the musical progresses, I see that Burr is caught in the same egoic drive as Hamilton, but he is simply coming at his ambition from the other direction.
It reminds me of the yogic concepts of Raga (desire) and Dvesha (aversion). You could actually think of both concepts as desire, but Raga is desire expressed by attraction to what you want, and Dvesha as desire expressed as avoiding what you don’t want so that you can experience what you want. These concepts are two of the causes of suffering according to yoga philosophy, and understandably so. There’s never an end to what we could desire nor is there any shortage of what we’d like to avoid (especially during these COVID-19 days).
Hamilton’s life seems driven by Raga. It’s all about his desire for recognition, intellectual prowess, fame, position, and even his flirtatious and sexual distractions. He’s never satisfied – and more on that shortly.
Burr likewise is obsessed with what he wants (expressed later in the musical in the song, “The Room Where It Happens”) – attention, recognition, power – but his path is one of trying to avoid upsetting anyone or taking any risks. Dvesha runs his life, and he even believes it’s a virtue by convincing himself he’s just patiently waiting for it. But patience is only a virtue when we are able to practice non-attachment to outcome. True patience is trusting in the Divine, knowing that the result is in our highest good, no matter what unfolds. For Burr, in his own way, he’s never satisfied, either, no matter how long he “Waits for It.”
Contentment? Not Here!
One of the most emotional moments of the musical, that hit home in so many ways, was when Angelica, who becomes Hamilton’s sister in law, sings “Satisfied.” She, too, has Hamilton’s disposition – knowing she’s smarter than most others, and ambitious, too, she wishes for her sister, Eliza, and Hamilton’s satisfaction in their marriage, although she knows both Hamilton and herself will likely never be satisfied.
My favorite spiritual principle from yoga philosophy, which I return to again and again, is contentment – Santosha – and I can see how that lack of contentment wrecks havoc in the lives of Hamilton, Burr, and Angelica. It’s been a painful one for me, too, as my pattern from early childhood was to always be seeking more and trying to be more. Although, in a small way, it has brought me success, many years ago I recognized that this discontent as my driver (and the inner self-doubt that was its constant companion) caused me a lot of misery and couldn’t carry me to true satisfaction. Only through Santosha could I find peace and fulfillment in the present moment.
I can’t help crying when I hear Angelica singing this song. How many of us have suffered from the inability to feel Santosha – to allow ourselves to feel content with what is, rather than always longing for something else, something more.
George Washington’s Integrity
I know GW was a slave holder and not a perfect man, but here in the musical (and honoring his great contributions to creating our nation), I felt he was a holder of integrity, clarity, and vision. You could feel the power of his leadership. It never appeared self-serving nor dissatisfied, but clearly focused on the goal. He had a vision and sense of intent in his actions that was powerful, and if the historical figure indeed was similar, I can see how he was the perfect leader to carry these young colonies through the Revolutionary War.
Later in the musical and in time, Washington steps down from the Presidency as he refused to run for a third term. He knew when he had done enough, and was a peace with it – an expression, for me, of Santosha. Content with having done his best, he was able to let it go, trusting in the new process of the government he helped to create, and setting the example for a change in power.
I probably cried the most with the song, “History Has Its Eyes on You.” Such an intense and moving connecting between Washington and Hamilton in that moment, and it is carried forth as a theme through the rest of the musical. The importance of that phrase stuck with me, right now in our history of the world, and in our personal lives. I’ll get to more of that near the end of this post.
The World Turned Upside Down
The song about the final battle, the Battle of Yorktown, has the refrain “The World Turned Upside Down”. This one was really moving for me, too – such an amazing theatrical portrayal of the battle and the transformation our country and the world underwent through defeating the British and winning our freedom.
I couldn’t help but reflect on the state of our own world right now. For most of us, it really does feel like our world has turned upside down. Whether you’re looking at climate change, Black Lives Matter, our political system, or COVID-19, we’ve been met with surprise and shock and stun all year long, and it doesn’t look like it will let up. In every case, it’s really up to us to right the ship, on a new course. We can’t go back. For me, the song is a reminder that we’re in a challenging time and it’s up to us, just like it was up to the young Americans, to do something about it.
It also happens to be my favorite song in the musical. 🙂 Um, maybe?
[just have to mention a couple asides: though I don’t have any spiritual thoughts about it, the songs that King George sings are stellar and hysterical! And my favorite actor is Daveed Diggs, whose portrayals of Lafayette and Jefferson were the most fun and memorable for me.]
Loss and Pain
As if I didn’t cry enough through the first act, I was sobbing through most of the second act. So many losses – the death of his son through a duel, the death of his friend John Laurens (maybe in the 1st act?), the loss of the love of his wife after he cheated on her. The downward spiral that Hamilton seemed stuck in was painful to watch, right down to his own demise from a duel (another egoic trap – weren’t all duels?).
I find it hard to imagine that it wouldn’t touch on everyone’s losses in their life; the loved ones that have died, the hurt done to us, and the things we’ve done that have hurt others.
Hamilton made an extraordinary impact on the birth of our nation – but he also hurt a lot of people, too. The power of one person to build up or destroy. He’s a mixed bag. Most of us are, and fortunately not as extreme as he is. His wife forgave him, and carried on service to the country for 50 years after his death.
It’s humbling to consider how she turned her pain and loss into caring for the greater good, by standing up against slavery, raising funds for building the Washington Monument, and founding an orphanage in New York, which is still there to this day. And, of course, compiling his writings and telling Hamilton’s story for generations to come to learn from. We, too, can transform our pain and losses – even our mistakes – into growth and lessons for how to better care for others, our planet, and even ourselves. We don’t have to stay stuck in the sorrow.
Burr’s Revelation
Burr’s political career slowed after he killed Hamilton in a duel. I don’t know what happened to the actual Burr, but in the musical he realizes that the “World Was Wide Enough” for both Hamilton and Burr. This is a spiritual realization of sorts.
The truth is that there’s enough room for all of us to make a difference and fulfill our purpose. Each of us has something to contribute. It’s easy for us to get jealous or competitive with people who follow a similar path or career. But there really is room for us all, and not just room, but we’re all needed. Each of us has a role to play – Burr did, too.
It doesn’t matter if we’re the one getting all the attention or not – only the choices that we make in our lives and what we choose to contribute matter. What other people think or say is not just unimportant – it’s not in our control. But we can decide to write our own story.
History is Written by You
I mentioned earlier that the theme from the song “History Has Its Eyes on You” is woven through the second half of the musical. These young revolutionaries knew they would alter the course of history, and so they should be mindful of the choices they make.
We’re at a pivotal time in our world history right now, too. Each of us is contributing to what will be told a hundred years from now. It wasn’t just the founding fathers, but the collective actions of the American colonists – women and men – that changed our trajectory. We have those choices now, with the leadership of our nation, creating true equality, overcoming corona virus, and healing our planet.
We can learn from the stories we hear of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. One was passionate, spoke out for the truth, but was never satisfied and hurt many. The other was patient and kept his thoughts to himself, didn’t offend, and didn’t take risks (except for killing Hamilton, a bad decision), but may not have lived up to his potential and likewise wasn’t content with his life.
Can we find the middle ground? We can discover how to speak our truth and be empowered from our own heart, rather than through putting down others. We can learn to wait patiently, trust in the Divine, and let go of our attachment to outcome. We can take action on what truly matters to us without expecting perfection, and let it be good enough. Like George Washington, we can do our best and then let it go when it’s time to step back.
You Tell Your Story
The musical ends with one of the most moving pieces, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?” These are the things that we don’t have control over. At a certain point, we must surrender control to something greater than us, and simply do our best in each present moment.
I doubt anyone will be telling my story in a hundred years, and what does that matter? What’s important is our own stories we write of our lives. Every day, we’re telling our own story. Is it one that you enjoy, that you feel proud of? That’s meaningful to you? That has touched your heart and soul, and that of at least one other in this world? Your story matters, because it is yours. It’s your life, and you get to create your story.
You can change your own history, right now. We can’t control who tells our story, if anyone, after we die. But right in this moment, we can live our story. If you don’t like the story so far, you can start a new chapter right now. You are the author, and you can be who you came here to be. No one else can write it for you – you’re the only one who has the power to do so.
Take inspiration from Eliza Hamilton, who committed to living her principles and making a difference, in spite of all the pain she suffered. Imagine if each of us did that. Our collective story can be one of healing, unity, and peace. And that’s a story that will be heard in a hundred years. Our History Has Its Eyes on You and Me.
Thanks for reading my insights from Hamilton. What impacted you from watching Hamilton? What spiritual themes did you see? I’d love to hear from you.
by Connie Habash | Oct 10, 2019 | Aliveness, Heart, Satisfying, Soul, Spirit, Suffering
I think this post will be a bit meandering and not perfectly composed, but my spirit has something to say, so I’m sayin’ it. There’s a lot of soul-suffering and it’s time to shift to soul-satisfying.
It’s World Mental Health Day (October 10th), and I’m reflecting on what I see in our nation and our planet. I could talk about anxiety or depression, the epidemic of loneliness, and mental health tips to feel better.
But all I can think about is our souls.
I see a lot of soul-suffering here in Silicon Valley. People feeling alone and disconnected. Some are feeling lost, without a sense of community. I sometimes feel this, too. It’s hard to connect with people that are too busy, too tired, have too long of a commute, that work all day and then come home and work from home into the evening. People who, in other parts of the country would be doing quite well, but here struggle to make ends meet in a very expensive place to live. It’s stressful and discouraging.
Life has become out of balance. We’ve bought into the idea that we need to be busy and “successful”, whatever that means – or at least look like it. Our self-esteem has become based on this appearance of being busy and important. Our schedules are constantly overloaded with things to achieve, not to mention taking care of a family or trying to get to the gym. We have defined ourselves by outward appearances. Then, we’re so wiped out that we choose even more soul-draining activities because they’re convenient, like TV or our devices.
Do all of our “doings” check the boxes for our self-worth? Do we ever feel truly fulfilled by this busy-ness, by our job title, by our long list of to-dos? Or does this simply serve to stress us out, never exiting the hamster wheel?
You know what my answer is. Our souls are sitting by, wondering when we will come back to ourselves, each other, and The Divine. Our souls are suffering, my friends. And it’s time to redirect ourselves to what truly fulfills our soul and brings us inner peace. These are the questions I sit with, and I answer in my life.
Yes, I have struggled with being too busy. I feel that pull that many of us have, to do more and accomplish my goals. I’ve achieved a lot by some standards. But I am also well aware that doing more doesn’t bring me peace or sustainable happiness. It just gets me addicted to doing more. The hamster wheel rolls on, and I remain constantly out of breath.
So every once in a while – OK, more like several times a week – I take a step back and remind myself of things that are soul-satisfying. That heal my heart and spirit, and connect me to something greater than myself, something meaningful, beautiful, and inspiring.
Our spirit needs us to stop. Not from ever doing anything, but to just stop, be, in the present moment, and feel. When we’re here in this present moment, opening our heart, and feeling our place in the Universe, we can feel belonging and wholeness that nothing else will provide.
What are the things that bring a feeling of inner fulfillment and peace for me, that have little or nothing to do with more “doing”?
- Sitting outside, listening to and watching birds
- Planting seeds and tending my garden
- Feeling the sun on my skin
- Watching trees blow in the breeze
- Feeling waves touch my feet on the beach
- Quietly sitting together with a loved one
- Laughing with my daughter
- Hiking through a redwood forest
- Listening to a good friend, and being listened to
- Doing my own yoga practice, quietly attentive to my body and breath
- Meditating
- Dancing with abandon
- Drawing mandalas, or scribbling recklessly
- Expressing gratitude to the Earth and to the Divine
- Feeling love in my heart
- Offering service to others
- Sitting in a circle of others of like mind, sharing from our hearts
- Hearing wisdom and inspiration from a teacher
I realize that, as I connect to my heart and soul, I could continue to add more to my list. So my question to all of us is, why do we spend so much time doing things that don’t really fill our souls? Do we believe we “have to” in order to survive?
Are we living, or just surviving? Is that what your soul wants?
We can still keep our jobs and businesses, but reorient our lives in a way that makes more sense. An unending to-do list and working 16 hours a day isn’t sensible, healthy, or fulfilling. We are here to live and thrive, not to survive and torture ourselves.
Your soul doesn’t have to keep suffering. You can choose to reorient your time and energy to bring more joy and meaning to your life. To focus on the simple things that are truly fulfilling, that bring you alive, and put your life back into balance.
It may not be easy at first. It may even take a systemic change, where our institutions and corporations need to be challenged. Working more hours isn’t necessarily productive and isn’t sustainable. The cost of living has to be addressed, so that people don’t have to work 2 or 3 jobs to pay the rent. We may have to find ways to set boundaries around our time and energy, and present a new paradigm: that people who have more balanced, healthy, and fulfilling lives create productive, effective workplaces.That kind of change will take a while, but it can be done.
And there is much we can do in the meantime with what time we have, and our choices with what we do with that time and energy.
I invite you to make a list of what fills your soul. You can call it your Soul-Satisfying List, or whatever works for you. Think about what makes your heart sing, what brings ease and calm, what fills you with a sense of connection and meaning. Choose things that aren’t really about achievement and doing, but focused more on being. Being in your heart and soul. What deepens your sense of Oneness and relationship to something greater than you?
Keep your list nearby to remind you of what matters. Attending to these things will do more for your mental health and overall well-being than doing the long list of “shoulds” that you probably have in your head.
Your heart and soul are calling to you. Listen and respond. I’d love to hear what is soul-satisfying to you.
Spiritual, psychological, and yogic insights from Hamilton, an iconic musical so applicable to our times.
I think this post will be a bit meandering and not perfectly composed, but my spirit has something to say, so I’m sayin’ it. There’s a lot of soul-suffering and it’s time to shift to soul-satisfying.
