Happiness is Giving Ourselves Space

The rat race has been on my mind lately. Just think of that phrase. Rat. Race.

And yet it’s a phrase commonly used to describe the lives we lead. This endless cycle of busy-busy-busy.

Why are we so driven to rush through life? I know I have this pull inside me: the desire to do more, be more, accomplish more. What about you?

Well, I’ve hit a “tired” patch. I don’t consciously participate in the rat race as much anymore, but I realized I have been pushing, rushing, being busier than is good for me. How do I know? Because I am creatively zapped right now, tired, and just want to lie in a hammock and feel the breeze wash over my face. So I’ve made some changes to my schedule recently so I can recharge.

Happiness is giving ourselves space.

In order to cultivate happiness, we need to give it space. We need to nurture it, and what I really mean is that we need to do this for ourselves. We need space to be available to the good stuff: fun, creativity, connection. All of the ingredients to our happiness stew. A friend was just talking to me about being available. I like that term.

Deep within us is a space that longs for simplicity and peace. A place that doesn’t want to have to do another chore or accomplish one more thing. It’s a space that just wants to be okay with things as they are.

Acceptance.

That’s a powerful word.

We can’t really accept ourselves if we’re always pushing. We can’t feel happiness if we don’t have enough space, rather like a butterfly trapped inside a plastic bubble. The crushing, contracting feeling we experience when we overdo things zaps all of our happiness.

Are you giving yourself enough space? Heck, are you giving yourself any space? Take a look with me at your calendar, for example. If you don’t have a lot of white space on your calendar, this might be a wakeup call. I know mine was. Now tune in and ask yourself, do I feel any peace in my life in this and this area? If the answer is no or you can’t feel that calmness, then you need more space.

Like I do right now.

So, step back. Cancel some things that aren’t really important. Shift other things ahead.

You’ll find yourself immediately feeling more peaceful. Happiness is just around the corner.

 

Image courtesy of njaj / FreeDigitalPhotos.net