Living Life Poetically: The Storm Within
“The Storm Within” is a poem about having a storm that’s not outside in the elements but inside you. Sometimes life can feel like there’s a storm raging within. And the feeling and effects can be very similar to what occurs outside. The Storm Within It seems the storm has rerouted.Disappearing from the forecast,It now rages inside you,Devastating your inward land. Its dark clouds hide the stars in your eyes,As its heavy rain pours down your cheeks. From within, its violent winds uproot you from where you stood like an oak, securely planted,And topples your spirit to the ground. Its bold thunder shakes your confidence to the coreAs its icy…
Living Life Poetically: Rest for a Barren Heart
“Rest for a Barren Heart” isn’t the most uplifting poem; however, it is hopeful toward the end. It’s for all those times we go to bed feeling a bit under the weather after a bad day. While the body needs rest, so does the soul. Rest for a Barren Heart If I hug this pillow tightly, Would it give comfort to my heart?If I press it against my chest,Would it support a heart’s barren weight of sorrow?If on it a heavy mind can press its head for dreams to follow,Can an emptied soul press its heart to fill the hollow? Perhaps, I would fall asleepand wake up to a better tomorrow …
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
Imagine being behind the steering wheel with no say or control on where your car turns or arrives. That’s similar to what happens when we don’t make the unconscious conscious. This quote, by psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Carl Jung, reminds us that if we’re not aware of the things that direct our lives, they will continue to direct our lives without us knowing. Therefore, we fail to redirect our path for the better because we’re unaware we need to. You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. So how do you make the unconscious conscious? It takes more reflection, mindfulness, and metacognitive awareness along with less denial. If necessary (and…
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
This quotation is from 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16. It’s a great reminder that we are more than our outer and physical selves. We may show visible signs of age, become weaker and slower over time, or become injured. That is part of life; and it shouldn’t make us lose heart. Because while all these things are taking place, there is another part of ourselves that is being renewed each day. It’s a part we don’t see and may not feel; but it’s the essence of who we are–our inner selves–our souls. At the end of the day, the constant renewal of our inner selves is what really matters. So,…
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
So you’ve resolved to be “happier,” but it seems like a daunting task. This quote, by Omar Khayyam, reminds us that our life is composed of moments in time. We move from one moment to another; and together, those moments make up our life. Therefore, if we can concentrate on being happier for each moment, we’ll find that being happier, in general, is achievable. We’ll find that the more we practice this with each moment, the easier it gets. Moreover, the more moments of happiness we can find, the happier our life can become overall. Consider the following questions: Are you living in the moment? How can you make the…
“Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways – ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.”
This quote, by Phylicia Rashad, is about the power of the mind and the subtle ways each of our thoughts, words, and actions can alter our outlook on ourselves and life little by little. Therefore, it’s important to be conscious of what we think, say, and do. Meanwhile trying to heal whatever pain or damage that’s already there.
“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.”
It’s a lot more convenient to believe that happiness is based on some kind of cause and effect relationship. And to a certain extent, that’s true. Certain things do make us happy. However, the point of this quote, by Ralph Marston, is that we shouldn’t rely on material things, events, or other people to achieve our own happiness. It has to come from within. It has to be as independent of external factors as possible, forming an unshakable, rock-solid foundation (i.e. joy). That is the choice that makes the needle on our compass point toward a state of happiness. Yes, things happen that might cause us to feel sad. But…
Lessons & Reflections on Social Distancing
So, I wasn’t going to talk about this. This site is not about discussing current events; at least that is never the intention. But here we are, experiencing something as a global collective that needs to be discussed here in this space. It is the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, which has given rise to a thing called “social distancing.” While there are many questions (and doubts by some) about the spread of the virus, one thing is for certain: although one of the best ways to contain its spread (through social distancing) can help our physical wellbeing, it’s not the best thing for our emotional wellbeing long term. After a…
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Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.
“Someday soon, we’ll all be together. If the fates allow. Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.”
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”
The difference between treating a physical vs. an emotional wound is that one heals faster when it’s covered and the other doesn’t
There’s a common misconception that it’s better to leave wounds exposed to let them air out–dry up and heal. Forget the bandaid. But…WRONG. Covering up wounds and keeping them moist, not dry, is what actually promotes healing. However, the opposite rule applies to emotional wounds. While covering up physical wounds promotes faster healing, doing the same with emotional ones only causes them to fester. Instead, it’s best to air out the emotional wounds. Don’t cover them up or avoid them. Face them. Lift them up in prayer. Talk about them with those you can trust, and talk about them with yourself through self-reflection. Because that is how those kinds of…
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Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”
“You can’t fall if you don’t climb. But there’s no joy in living your whole life on the ground.”
If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.
This quote, by Wayne Dyer, is about the power of perspective. The best way to appreciate it is by reflecting on your own experience. Think about a time you’ve had a feeling something won’t work out and a time when you’ve felt confident something will work out. With the first perspective, it’s easier to see all the things that might go wrong–the obstacles. Although it helps to be aware of the obstacles, only seeing them and not the opportunities is just discouraging. However, with a perspective that things will work out, even things that are legitimate obstacles can be perceived as opportunities.
