Renewed Clarity

After increasing my awareness of consumption on social media, food, news, and anything else you can think of that we unnecessarily overconsume, I went down a rabbit hole of clearing out stuff in my office, from collected packaging materials to paintings I created- hoping to find new homes, reorganizing the space, and I love the outcome.

With that spaciousness and new awareness, I also binge-listened to a podcast from Field Trip Marketing (so much on overconsumption ;) and definitely worth listening to) that made me question business, relationships, and the meaning of my work. And in that experience, I was reminded why we want to pay attention to how much we consume. I noticed that the moment we consume more than we can chew and digest, we're more likely to question ourselves. Our choices, where we put our time and money, and whether the thing we are so passionate about is worth living for.

This inquiry and exploration didn't last too long- not that I have the full answer yet- but I was reminded that we are moving into a new season. We are moving into a season of transition and reflection, and as we look at a year and life, those seasons keep getting shorter, so we will find ourselves in similar seasons again and again. Some people already dread the cooler, calmer months and want to rush to Spring. What if skipping those stages, those months, does us a disservice? What if we need those slower moments to help us make better, sustainable decisions for the future? Just like nature.

Reflecting on consumption, clean-up, and the season of Fall, I noticed a repetition:

LETTING GO.

All of those topics ask us to let go. Releasing the impression that other people's content will change our lives. That keeping items that might serve me later will add something to my life, and that the change of season will make my heart heavy.

Letting go is a mastery; it takes continuous practice.

The challenging part is that we just made space for something to happen, to change, to improve, and the remedy is to do nothing. Let it go and get comfortable with it. Not only letting go of the tangible items, also of our thoughts. Free yourself. Enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Letting go allows us to be present. To practice not to fill every space and moment with something, but to be content with not doing. It might feel counterproductive and counterintuitive to everything we have been taught and know.

Some moments don't need anything else. Let them breathe; let yourself breathe. Our bodies and minds need time to move and make sense of life. And in this fast-paced, ever-faster experience of life, we need to consciously slow down. We need to actively allow ourselves to be human and to give life room to breathe and be.

When was the last time you avoided picking up your phone because you were bored?

When was the last time you stepped outside instead of browsing online or watching a show?

When was the last time you listened to the sounds around you without doing anything with them?

Suppose those answers weren't any time lately. Do it now. Put your phone down, turn off the TV or digital device, and listen to any sounds you can hear and do nothing.

Share your love. Our human existence depends on it. 💕 #community #breathe #bepresent #compassion #love #donothing #bebored