I thought I'd share a gem from my mother, who is my greatest source of inspiration. She sent me this quote after I shared some thoughts from my day's work. After the quote, are her thoughts on the subject. She turns 80 later this year.
"As the Sufi Pir Vilayet Inayat Khan said: 'You are feeling the pain of the Cosmos. You must meet it with joy, and without a feeling of self-pity.'
"Ah, yes, that is exactly what I believe. We thinking people cannot help but be aware of the pain in the universe, and indeed we are allowed to feel it, but we must not be overcome by it. Whatever happens in life, we must continue to find the bits of joy around us, nourish them and make them grow, even while we accept the unexpected and perhaps unwanted effects on ourselves without self-pity. So it is my determination and also part of my regular morning practice to greet each new day with all the joy I can muster. I wake up, rise out of bed, and, even if my joints ache or my head spins, I feel the joy in my face, in my muscles, in my heart. I may glance a look in the mirror to make sure no stress wrinkles are seen around my eyes. I approve the look of my face and feel a smile I don't have to force into being. Life is good. I am ready for another day."
As an on and off again sufferer of depression, this can be one of my greatest challenges. It is very hard on some days to try to release the anxiety and the deep "low" feeling and welcome a new day. Not that it cannot be done, but sometimes I have to recite an old saying: "Act as if ye have faith, and faith ye shall have."
Stacie, I completely agree with you! In fact, I thought twice about posting this for the very reason you state, that it's hard, on some days to let go of the agonizing anxiety and depression, to be sure. But I suppose this is partly why I posted it. As a Holocaust survivor, my mother had years of practice trying to reconcile her deep despair with her longing for peace in her heart. She studied, she wrote, she read, she faked it, she disciplined herself and finally, she embraced the art of finding light when it is dark, and finding joy when all seems lost. It is not easy to do. I dare say I have a long way to go to master this for myself. But you, Stacie have captured the essence of her greatest tool: act as if you believe and ultimately, you will believe. Thanks for your comment.
As an on and off again sufferer of depression, this can be one of my greatest challenges. It is very hard on some days to try to release the anxiety and the deep "low" feeling and welcome a new day. Not that it cannot be done, but sometimes I have to recite an old saying: "Act as if ye have faith, and faith ye shall have."
ReplyDeleteStacie, I completely agree with you! In fact, I thought twice about posting this for the very reason you state, that it's hard, on some days to let go of the agonizing anxiety and depression, to be sure. But I suppose this is partly why I posted it. As a Holocaust survivor, my mother had years of practice trying to reconcile her deep despair with her longing for peace in her heart. She studied, she wrote, she read, she faked it, she disciplined herself and finally, she embraced the art of finding light when it is dark, and finding joy when all seems lost. It is not easy to do. I dare say I have a long way to go to master this for myself. But you, Stacie have captured the essence of her greatest tool: act as if you believe and ultimately, you will believe. Thanks for your comment.
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