What’s The Point?

What’s the point?

I recently got an update from my phone regarding the hours per day I’m logging screen time. When I realized how much time (per day, per week, per month, etc.), I was spending in hustle mode to get my business going, I had to take a moment to grieve the time I wasn’t out living a life.

Like many of you, I spend a lot of time reading and studying about living a better life, but I had to ask myself, “Are you using this information to actually live a well-lived life?” The answer - in numbers - was right in front of me. The truth couldn’t be denied.

So what is the point of doing the inner work? The good news is that the answer is quite simple. The point is to: live in the present moment and ignite our life force (prana, chi, qi, elan vital). 

We are wired to use past experiences to infer the future, so it’s a moment to moment checking in with oneself to live life in the here-and-now. As Lao Tzu famously said, “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”

So we do the inner work to clear the karmic patterning, so we can see the forest through the trees. But, let’s remember to come up for air too. For, as much as we dive into the depths, we have to put our work to the test. We only live through experiencing and hopefully, that includes dancing and flowing (at least) as much as we’re reading, listening to podcasts, and having the deep conversations. Otherwise - dare I say - it’s just another distraction, dependence or addiction. 

Make a conscious choice to be among those who are living a solvent life in relationship to all connections: Self, others, community, money, home, nature, world and cosmos. We can simply make note of those who are bankrupt in one or more of these areas and be an inspiration, as our job is not to save people. 

The picture above is of a magical spot I love spending time in. It’s creekside and among ancient oaks. It plunks me right into present moment when I’m there. Nature is the most potent salve and antidote to this ever-distracted society we live in.  

How would life be different if we were to match the time we spend on screens to the time spent in nature? 

“Voluntary Simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.” - John Kabat-Zinn

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