Clarity

“I can see clearly now. The rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way.”

I’m feeling clearer. Depression is abating and the sensation of decluttering is comforting and welcome. I feel the anticipation of good things waiting in the future and I’m experiencing a gentle acceptance of events of the past. Now is what matters most and I am noticing the timelessness of the ‘now’. I can hardly remember what day it is, and, when 4:00 arrives, I am amazed at the passage of the time and at how much I engage during my day!

Ultimately we are each in search of happiness. We strive for safety, satisfaction and joy. How we access that joy is often challenging. “How do I have fun?” “What do I want to be when I grow up?” “What has meaning for me in my life?” “Where do I find that meaning?”

Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search For Meaning suggests clearly that our very survival often depends on having a purpose for living. During his years as a Jew living in concentration camps, including Auschwitz for a few years, Frankl observed that those people who recognize meaning in their life tend to survive the misery and trauma of life in the camps more often than those who have lost purpose. A loving relationship (wife, husband, child, friend, etc), an idea for a book to write, pursuit of a career, being alive to ‘tell the story’, all constitute meaning for individuals. Meaning for living comes from within. Once established and identified, chances for survival increase.

Generally, in our western world, we are conditioned to look for answers externally. Media, television sitcoms, Hollywood movies, pop music, advertising generally influence the ways we choose to live. What we wear, when and where we wear it are often determined by conventions. The ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’ frequently guide us in making decisions. “I should go to university because that’s what my parents expect.” “I’m 30 years old. I should have a baby already!” These influences often interfere with our own pursuit of personal bliss. “Should we go to the party?” is often the question instead of “Do I want to go to the party?”

The answers to these questions ultimately lie within each of our selves. Asking the right questions is the path to finding them.

For me, I feel smart enough, with rich and varied life experiences. I’m a good, loving and compassionate person. I trust that I have the answers to the questions that keep me unsettled. I continue to search and remain open, and I find peace as I seek love within my own heart. Clarity appears because my boundaries become established. The boundaries remain soft, appearing as cottony mountains…not solid walls. They are flexible, breathable and gentle. They provide safety and security.

Yes…de-cluttering is what I’ve been doing to achieve satisfaction. Prioritizing, breathing and letting go of things and relationships that don’t serve me well also is taking place. It allows me to think less and focus on what matters most… finding my own delight.