Day 81
I’m rereading The Art of Living, and one of the first things it mentions is the power of stillness.
The way the book describes stillness is imagining your mind as being like a lake.
It reflects reality more clearly when still than when waves disrupt the surface and distort the image of the sky and the rocks surrounding the lake.
So bringing your mind to that kind of stillness requires a certain skill.
And then the truth of reality can be revealed more clearly as well.
Each page in this book feels like a breath of fresh air — one that fights away fatigue and brings peace to your body.
His writing is like warm chicken noodle soup in the middle of winter — wholesome and filling with each spoonful.
I’ve slowly started to realize how to feel less empty.
I used to be very nihilistic, wondering why anything mattered at all. I used to focus on the things my life lacked instead of appreciating what I had.
Having five senses is a privilege.
Being able-bodied is a privilege.
Having a support system is a privilege.
Having a roof over your head is a privilege.
These are all blessings that we too often take for granted.
And when you realize that happiness is not merely a state of mind — it’s an attitude and framework through which you can view your life — the results can be astounding.
Thinking this way has given me more energy for even when I’m working.
I’m happier doing the same, previously monotonous tasks that I was doing before.
Why?
Because I’ve learned how to live in the moment.
Too often I’ve noticed my attention shifting to watch the time, spending a lot of my time and energy on thinking about when work would end.
Learning how to stay happy in the moment has made time fly by.
Nothing has changed, but my mindset has, and so the reality I perceive has changed as a result.
I strongly suggest you give this a try, too, in your daily life. Try to focus on being in the present, as opposed to worrying about the past or future.
And frankly, this doesn’t always work. As in the case today where one woman harangued me for the price of grapefruits (which I, as a lowly cashier in the H Mart world, have no control whatsoever over). I tried my best to remain optimistic, but I was still somewhat affected by the whole thing.
But still, finding an inner peace about the world after-the-fact is one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had lately.
I think most of the answers to life’s big questions have simpler answers than you may think. And different people have different answers to the same question, and that’s totally fine, too.
I’ll just share mine as I come upon them over the course of the next few months.
Gonna be reading lots to learn more about the world!
And now I’ll probs reread some more of The Art of Living before bedtime.
Bye!
