Do you? Do you mind your mind? What I mean is, how are you making meaning around your life and the events in it?
As a social worker, I have always been greatly concerned how the context of our lives affect our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical bodies. Over the years I have become increasingly aware of the inner context that plays off our life contexts (how we make meaning of what happens to us) and how very much more important that is.
Mind your Mind
Check out these two minds and the two ways they make meaning.*
1. Person number one:
Lives an OK life. His/her friends and family members are present and healthy, he/she has a good job and enjoys a life of political freedom. However, this person lives in great fear that he/she is vulnerable, anxious that something bad is coming. He/she focuses on deficits rather than abundance. This makes one feel hopeless.
We understand why. It is easy to do. We grow up learning how to do this in school, at homeland through our media exposure. We are uncultured to see what we didn’t do instead of what we did. Here is an exercise to change that. Anxiety and Trust Issues.
2. Person number two:
Lives in a context of great hardship, experiencing poverty, oppression, and significant loss. However, he/she understands that the soul cannot be harmed, and feels happy seeing and appreciating the small bits of beauty in life: laughing, sharing, and loving more on the account of the hardships.
Who is suffering more? How would you like to live?
*These aren’t the only two possibilities.
You create your own darkness by resisting the light that is inside of you!
How do you mind your mind? From what story do you make meaning about your experiences?
I LOVE IT!
If you don’t experience the negative side of life, you can’t appreciate the good one.
I don’t pretend to be happy, but I am satisfied with what i have. It could have been worse, and I truly enjoy the beautiful moments I have during the day. Those moments can be as simple as getting a nice text message, eating something I like, having a nap, a nice word coming from someone I love, or listening to a beautiful song.
nikky44 recently posted..ViVa La Musica
you are leading the way for all of us!
No Deal!
we’re not exchanging places. I chose my leaders first!
Nikky44 recently posted..ViVa La Musica
Interesting Jodi!
I think both people are suffering, and that is a part of life. No one escapes from suffering. Where one has everything, there is always a lack of something – isn’t it.
Though person 1 is happy otherwise, he/she always lives in fear and focuses on deficits and thus, can never really be happy and content. While person 2, has the contentment and happiness in life, but is poor and face’s poverty and losses, without which again he cannot be really happy.
However, if I had to choose to live like one of them, I would choose person 2. I think I really never feared hardships nor poverty, which are things that come and go. Losses are hard, but we learn to cope with them, don’t we? But what I would look for is contentment and happiness in life, which person 2 has, something that most of us want in our lives.
But yes, I am overall content and happy with the present life I have, which is a mixture of what person 1 and 2 have. Yes, some other things add up and make the life worth-while, and there are no complaints what so ever.
Thanks for sharing and making us think 🙂
You got it! Resilience is something very interesting, isn’t it! What makes parson two overcome and person one unable is sometime beyond us, but we do know it is a choice!
The cartoon reminded me of a bumper sticker I saw–Don’t believe everything you think. Your contrast between the two people is vivid. And I loved the question about who is really suffering. I’m reading a great book right now by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, in which he shows so clearly how we create our own suffering in many ways. Great post.
Galen Pearl recently posted..Falling Away
I would probably love that book!
Reminds me of Viktor Frankl’s book – ‘Mans search for meaning’ or even that movie, I think it’s called “A beautiful life’. I’m always amazed by the resilience and power of the human spirit and our ability to shape our perceptions…
Kirri, I love both those examples of the meaning we make being all the difference. When someone who endured great hardship says it is helps us listen.
Id still rather be rich and missing something than poor anyday,good thought provoking post though!
Hahaha! How about both?
I think it is worse to live with fear. That colors everything else in life and is a nagging background. To be grateful for what we have and to be giving of ourselves–that is a meaningful life, I believe.
Tina Barbour recently posted..Book Review: "You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)," by Jeff Goins
Tina, I agree, fear is the worst and sometimes I find is behind every problem that we have.
Jodi, I’m with the second guy. Everyone has sorrow now and then. It’s being able to laugh, look on the bright side, that helps us through the bad times. I’m a great believer in the healing power of laughter.
Monica recently posted..Looking Good, Mr. Z!
Monica, I agree, I think I am going to make this blog more funny! You got it covered in your blog and this is why you are so well liked!
Another fantastic post. I am copying this quote into my favorites file.
Thanks! Tina!
true happiness is not found in external advantages such as material luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness lies in not being dependent on such random and fleeting things. And because happiness does not consist in benefits of this kind, it is within everyone’s reach. Moreover, having once been attained, it can never be lost.
Samar Saleh recently posted..Unjustified Happiness
Thanks Samar, Once we realize what is important that knowing cannot be taken away! Our values are ours to keep. We can change them grow them, expand or develop but that is ours.
Jodi, I truly believe that if we’re unhappy it’s only because we’ve strayed off the path of life; the life we’re meant to have; one filled with abundance. I believe those who aren’t as well off financially are oftentimes more generous than those who have a lot of money. I’ve always wondered why this is the case and I think it’s because they don’t have an attachment to material things. I don’t think things make us happy. I think our attitude, our beliefs, and the way we approach life is what determines our state of mind. Granted there are better days than others but when we commit to living life to the fullest, without the dependency of material things, we are free to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. And I wouldn’t have it any other way! 🙂
Right, knowing those bad days are temporary makes all the difference! And that there is something we can learn from them. It is all just an experience. This thought has gotten me through many hard times.
Great food for thought, Jodi. Is it possible that person #1’s issue is a lack of entitlement to the ok life he/she has? Do I deserve what I have when others are suffering?
Another (semi related) issue is when people (in the person #1 mindset) are too focused on their own lives and what might go wrong to enjoy small pleasures. The cure for that is to look for purpose outside yourself, to turn to others in need, to help, to share love, to celebrate different perspectives.
Lisa W. Rosenberg recently posted..Sunshine Award Nomination!
I think maybe Lisa, Seeing what can be lost instead of what is abundant. When we fear it is an attitude of seeing the bad in things instead of the good in things. Contributing to others is indeed often a cure for pain and loss! I agree! Here I am to prove it!
I don’t think life without hardship is worth it’s weigh. We need to live on both sides of the coin to appreciate this life. I don’t like it when I am riding the darker side of life, but I do appreciate the value and wisdom I gain after. A knock you are you backside post, Jodi. I like that you make us think and keep us honest.
brenda recently posted..What Would You Ask
Thanks Brenda, I aim to please.
I like what you have written here Jodi. It’s not the conditions that cause our suffering, but the inner mental resistance that causes it.
Guy Finley gives a great example of this when he talks about the guy who is trying to put together a wooden bookshelf with 1000 pieces. It’s his own lack of patience and understanding causing the stress and not the actual bookshelf.
Justin Mazza recently posted..How To Feel Good About Saying No
Hey, Justin, welcome to my blog, did you find me through Harleenas? I saw your name in her comments. Thanks for coming. You can be my man’s perspective!
Every time I get down about what I don’t have or fears that stop me from being happy, I look around at what I do have. I really can’t complain. I’m very fortunate and grateful.
Great post, Jodi!
Kelly Hashway recently posted..Cover Reveal: BREAKING BLASS by Lisa Amowitz
Thanks, Kelly!