By: Linda Sapadin
If there's anything I hear a lot about lately, it's people complaining about "how crazy their life is." This is usually followed up by a statement about how frantic they've been -- "running here, running there, taking care of this, taking care of that."
What's pretty amazing to me is that I hear this same refrain uttered by working women, full-time moms, men, kids, even retired people. What is it with our culture that breeds such "craziness"? Do we really hate this "crazy pace of life" or do we just complain about it? When we're on autopilot "running here and running there," do we even know what we are missing out on? What would our experiences be like, if they were less harried? Perhaps it's time to think about it.
There's a big difference between being busy -- active and involved in life -- and being so busy that you cannot be still. If your life is mostly "running from here to there," you probably accomplish a lot, yet take little satisfaction from your busy day. Indeed, if your mind is racing as fast as your body, it will be on to the next activity before you even finish the one you're experiencing now. This, of course, will lead to a fair amount of mental confusion and forgetfulness. You may wonder at times if you're having a nervous breakdown or early signs of Alzheimer's. My, how busyness can keep us occupied!
If this frenetic way of life sounds familiar, here's my advice to you. Take some time each day to be still. Be silent. Be alone. Do nothing. Oh, it won't be easy. And it may also seem like a complete waste of time. After all, you've got so much to do! And even if you don't, diversions are competing for your attention all the time. The phone rings. Your e-mail beckons. A favorite TV program is on. There's stuff to take care of. And before you know it, the day is gone. Where is the time for being still?
If you get past the resistance of being still, however, that time can become the loveliest part of your day. Being still can help you get in touch with that part of yourself that touches your soul. Stay still long enough and you will begin to know yourself in a new way. How amazing it is to become really clear about what you feel, what you think, what you want, what you value.
As you go silent, you give yourself the opportunity to hear your voice. Though your mental demons may also come popping out to torture you for awhile, just let them be. Visualize them floating out of your head like a small red balloon -- up, up and away. Then return to your silence. And you will be freer.
So, if your day is spent rushing to do everything, yet everything is taking away from your enjoyment of what you're doing at the moment, stop! If your day is spent rushing to find yourself out there, yet you spend too little time with yourself in here, stop. If you make time each day to be still, you may end up saying good-bye to "crazy" days, an "exhausted" body and a "hungry" soul.
Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice who specializes in
individual and family therapy as well as personal coaching. Copyright 2001
