There’s a critical moment at the end of each day that gets lost.
In the busyness of life – the doing of all things necessary and even those things pleasurable – there’s an opportunity for a single moment of reflection; a moment that if experienced, changes everything. If I stop, get still, let the mind rest, and let myself feel the day it brings clarity, awareness, appreciation and, perhaps most importantly, release.
Much of the day I spend doing rather than being. I do laundry. I go to work. I shop. I prepare meals (ok, not so often or well, but I do make food). I take care the pets or other people or plants. I clean. I plan. I think. I do things that need done.
When do I feel?
In tiny increments during the day I feel glimpses of emotion. Irritation, amusement, happiness, impatience, pleasure, joy, sadness, frustration, elation, despair, pressure, anxiety, relief, fear. All of these and more make cameo appearances in my life as I am busy doing.
But what is the effect of the day on my soul? What happened today? How am I feeling after experiencing this day? Am I joyful, peaceful, worried, fearful, overwhelmed, excited, exhausted. What is the emotional content, the subtext, of today? Is my heart aching? Is it filled with love and appreciation?
Noticing the experience of being, rather than doing tasks, for a few moments at the end of the day allows me full awareness and connection to genuine emotions. The context of the day is the concern of my soul, whereas the content of the day comprises activities.
It is in this moment that I experience the soul of life. I feel deep peace. Rich joy. And sometimes great sadness or overwhelm. There is richness in fully experiencing feelings minus any activities that mask the depth of emotion.
I am in that deeper awareness. I know more of myself. I grow. And then . . . I let it go.
Therein lies a useful compass that helps me sail my ship in the right direction. In settling down with the truth of our emotional life there is understanding. A moment of awareness cultivated daily becomes an essential tool for inner wellness.
Which way are you going?