We all love Audrey Hepburn! Remember in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when she talked about the mean reds? She said, “The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of.”
I think many of us are going through the “REALLY mean reds.” Meaning that there are SO many things to be afraid of these days, we aren’t sure which one is terrifying us the most! And, that overwhelm can lead to the inability to function.
Recently, I was talking with a friend who reminded me of the potent power of “Focus.” When we focus on the distressing things that are happening just about anywhere you turn, that is ALL you see.
I want you to try this. For one hour consciously focus on the things that make you happy. It may be the garden or a morning walk in your neighborhood. It may be meeting with a friend or taking the time to stroke your cat. It may be listening to music or just anything that you find yourself lost in for even just a moment. If it works for you like it works for me, you will find yourself in a more peaceful place. You may notice more beauty and more of the things that make you happy. And, from that happier, more peaceful place you may be better able to see solutions to the challenges that you are facing. When we spend our time fretting, it zaps our energy and we need to have access to all the energy that we can muster to turn around whatever piece of our lives is not working for us.
When we get overwhelmed and depressed we have a tendency to hide out. And, perversely, the more we hide out…the more we hide out! Isolation is a killer.
Nothing positive will come from staying isolated. Being with friends, networking with colleagues, or helping those with bigger issues creates the juice that feeds our lives. Our relationships to one another are key at any time, but especially when life deals us some hard knocks.
Time for reflection is a good thing and sometimes those hard knocks tip us off-balance enough that we reassess our lives and work harder to be the person we wish to be. Maybe you’ve been putting off doing A until B is finished. For instance, maybe you have been putting off helping out at your local food bank, women’s shelter, or senior center until you have more time. Maybe now is the time. No matter how frightened you are, there is someone else out there who could use your help. You never know…you may start to visit the senior center and your favorite resident’s daughter just happens to run the company you want to work for! The point is not that you help others hoping that you’ll get something out of it (other than the joy), but when you get in the mix of life with the people around you, you just never know. You have a richer life in ways you may never have imagined.
What do you have to lose? Go ahead. Throw yourself into the mad swirl of life and focus a little each day on those things and being with those people that make you happy. Even if your life does change in ways you didn’t think you wanted, when viewed from a new perspective, your life just might get even better!
