"Happiness calls us on the phone, knocks at our door, waits for us round the corner... But we are forever in a hurry." (Konstantin Melikhan)
It is true that we are forever in a hurry: there is so much to get done, our lifetime is limited and there is still so much we want to do...
Or perhaps we hurry because we think we simply have to be the best, flawless, perfect — that is what our parents taught us, what school demanded of us and what society expects.
Doing less is never enough, we have to do even more. And perfection, as we know, has no limit.
We want to live up to the rules of society, of colleagues, of the boss, of our parents — so that we are accepted, approved of, so that we do not lose our job, our love, attention, admiration. All of this makes us dependent on other people and unfree; this is living someone else's life instead of our own.
All of this keeps us from living consciously, for ourselves. If you have stopped hearing yourself — your wishes, needs, feelings, sensations — and you are under constant tension, then you need to stop and ask yourself where on earth you are going and why, and who needs it: you, or perhaps someone else? And ask yourself as well: "Is it really worth not hearing myself?"
Perhaps it is time to change direction, or to slow the pace? Or perhaps you need that pace precisely so as not to hear yourself? Perhaps it is an escape from yourself, from feelings, wishes and needs that frighten you? Think about it...
What will happen if you listen to yourself, what will happen if you slow down? What will happen if you finally hear yourself?...
If it is frightening to look inside, if it is frightening to hear yourself, then it is high time to find the courage to stop. What for?
It will help you make sense of yourself, of your wishes and goals, to look at what you have achieved and whether you are content with it, at what else you want to achieve, for whom and why, at whether you are happy as things are or whether something is worth changing or putting right.
On the one hand this is frightening, because we are afraid to see the truth and look it in the eye. On the other hand, if we are honest with ourselves, we can live the rest of our life more happily, because we will find our real self. And I think that is worth it. What do you think?
