Stop Racing and Start Living
Peace and serenity require maintenance.
Although a natural state, they need to be maintained because of the pressures of the society we live in.
Without so much external interference, we would naturally begin to slow down and decrease the pace of our lives.
Unfortunately, we can't change the world overnight, but we can change the way we allow the world to affect us.
There are many ways to practice the art of self improvement.
For me, my journey focuses on the worship and emulation of Christ combined with the practice of Zen mind.
My Christianity is a gift that provides direction, meaning, and purpose.
The practice of Zen mind enables me to maintain my own private place of quiet and calm.
The two, for me, are a combination of worship and direction for my soul, and the process of cleansing my mind.
They compliment each other because one is worship, and the other practice.
A couple of years ago, I discovered Zen Habits while browsing the web.
I had never read a blog, but I was interested because of the name.
I started reading, discovered some great advice and wisdom, and have been a subscriber ever since.
I now follow quite a few blogs that all center around the same basic theme of self improvement and spiritual growth.
One of the main issues that people seem to struggle with is trying to slow down, and enjoy life more.
It sounds simple enough, but it can take a lifetime to figure out.
With the direction America is headed, and the condition of the world economy, it's a great time to slow down, and start discovering the treasures we've missed by moving too fast.
To do so, we must learn to get out of race mode, and start living effectively.
There's a lot of great advice on how to get more out of life - I've picked a few areas that have helped me stop racing and start living.
Simplify "The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without.
" -Ernest Hemingway It's only my opinion, but I feel the more we're surrounded with, and the more we have to deal with - the less chance we have of finding true peace and serenity.
Some simplification needs to take place.
We need to get rid of the excess - in as many areas as possible.
I spent a few years living in Japan; it's where I originally developed an interest in Zen practice.
Something that impressed me about many (not all), Japanese was the way they maintained a simple lifestyle amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.
They were able to do so because they kept things simple - and they prioritized.
They kept their own space simple, made purchases based on quality instead of quantity, did not over-consume, and prioritized their life choices based on the effect those choices would have on their peace of mind.
By living uncluttered lives, they're able to function smoothly, think with clarity, and their creativity blossoms.
The simplicity of less provides a fuller life - the act of living each day is an artistic expression.
Slow Down "This is the way of heaven: do your work, then quietly step back.
"- Lao Tzu In order to live a full, effective life, we must learn to slow down.
A frantic, rushing lifestyle accomplishes very little and destroys much.
Many of today's health issues arise because of the pressure people put on themselves to be the best and win at all costs.
The sad thing is, we're taught through childhood that we must compete, climb and win.
The problem with this philosophy is by being so focused on goals and results, we completely miss the experience of the journey.
Days of rushing from one task to the next go by in a blur, the days turn to weeks, then months, and then years.
It becomes a habit, and lifetimes are wasted without ever really being lived.
By learning to slow down, we focus on one task only, complete it with quality, quietly step back to enjoy our creation, and then move on to the next.
This may seem like an archaic principle in today's society in which multitasking is considered a talent.
However, I've heard of no-one that has tried both ways and not been more productive, with superior quality, by single tasking.
I much prefer doing less, at a healthy pace, than doing more inferior work at a hectic pace.
It's a challenging, but rewarding change to make.
Live by your own values To reject the constant bombardment, by every type of media, telling us how we need to live and consume- takes a lot of courage.
Much of our culture is based on consumption and image maintenance at any cost.
They tell us what our values should be, what our image should be, and what products we should buy to create that image.
By falling into this trap, people spend their entire lives obsessed with becoming something they'll never be, and are destined to never ending frustration.
Too much will never be enough for them.
I actually know of someone, so consumed with maintaining an image, that he swindled an elderly woman out of her life savings, went to prison for it, and when he got out, went right back to his old ways.
He's a slave to false values.
If we live by our own values, we're our own boss in every way.
We have a clear understanding of what our direction and purpose is.
Every aspect of our lives is easier to manage because we base our decisions and choices on our own principles.
We live from the inside out, instead of from the outside in.
We affect the world instead of the world affecting us.
Laugh at yourself: Other than Christ, I can't think of anyone who has ever done life perfectly.
We all seem to make more mistakes than we do things correctly.
I guess it's just part of human nature.
So striving for perfection is a waste of time, the race will never be over - it's moving at a healthy pace in the right direction that matters.
So when mistakes happen, and we screw up; so what? We can laugh at ourselves, and continue on.
We learn from mistakes; they're the building blocks of success.
Be Childlike: Children have it all figured out.
Everything is an amazing adventure; they look at each day like the universe is starting all over - just for them.
Instead of teaching children to grow up, I think we need to learn from children how to grow down.
Growing up takes the magic out of everything, we need to remember what our minds were like when we were children and recapture that magic.
I believe Jesus said we need to be like little children because they're free of judgmental thinking, their minds are open, their thoughts are pure, and they can change direction in an instant.
Children don't scrutinize the truth in life; they just believe, and do.
They keep it simple.
While learning to stop racing and start living, and making our lives what they were meant to be, remember to : Be Happy No Matter What!
Although a natural state, they need to be maintained because of the pressures of the society we live in.
Without so much external interference, we would naturally begin to slow down and decrease the pace of our lives.
Unfortunately, we can't change the world overnight, but we can change the way we allow the world to affect us.
There are many ways to practice the art of self improvement.
For me, my journey focuses on the worship and emulation of Christ combined with the practice of Zen mind.
My Christianity is a gift that provides direction, meaning, and purpose.
The practice of Zen mind enables me to maintain my own private place of quiet and calm.
The two, for me, are a combination of worship and direction for my soul, and the process of cleansing my mind.
They compliment each other because one is worship, and the other practice.
A couple of years ago, I discovered Zen Habits while browsing the web.
I had never read a blog, but I was interested because of the name.
I started reading, discovered some great advice and wisdom, and have been a subscriber ever since.
I now follow quite a few blogs that all center around the same basic theme of self improvement and spiritual growth.
One of the main issues that people seem to struggle with is trying to slow down, and enjoy life more.
It sounds simple enough, but it can take a lifetime to figure out.
With the direction America is headed, and the condition of the world economy, it's a great time to slow down, and start discovering the treasures we've missed by moving too fast.
To do so, we must learn to get out of race mode, and start living effectively.
There's a lot of great advice on how to get more out of life - I've picked a few areas that have helped me stop racing and start living.
Simplify "The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without.
" -Ernest Hemingway It's only my opinion, but I feel the more we're surrounded with, and the more we have to deal with - the less chance we have of finding true peace and serenity.
Some simplification needs to take place.
We need to get rid of the excess - in as many areas as possible.
I spent a few years living in Japan; it's where I originally developed an interest in Zen practice.
Something that impressed me about many (not all), Japanese was the way they maintained a simple lifestyle amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.
They were able to do so because they kept things simple - and they prioritized.
They kept their own space simple, made purchases based on quality instead of quantity, did not over-consume, and prioritized their life choices based on the effect those choices would have on their peace of mind.
By living uncluttered lives, they're able to function smoothly, think with clarity, and their creativity blossoms.
The simplicity of less provides a fuller life - the act of living each day is an artistic expression.
Slow Down "This is the way of heaven: do your work, then quietly step back.
"- Lao Tzu In order to live a full, effective life, we must learn to slow down.
A frantic, rushing lifestyle accomplishes very little and destroys much.
Many of today's health issues arise because of the pressure people put on themselves to be the best and win at all costs.
The sad thing is, we're taught through childhood that we must compete, climb and win.
The problem with this philosophy is by being so focused on goals and results, we completely miss the experience of the journey.
Days of rushing from one task to the next go by in a blur, the days turn to weeks, then months, and then years.
It becomes a habit, and lifetimes are wasted without ever really being lived.
By learning to slow down, we focus on one task only, complete it with quality, quietly step back to enjoy our creation, and then move on to the next.
This may seem like an archaic principle in today's society in which multitasking is considered a talent.
However, I've heard of no-one that has tried both ways and not been more productive, with superior quality, by single tasking.
I much prefer doing less, at a healthy pace, than doing more inferior work at a hectic pace.
It's a challenging, but rewarding change to make.
Live by your own values To reject the constant bombardment, by every type of media, telling us how we need to live and consume- takes a lot of courage.
Much of our culture is based on consumption and image maintenance at any cost.
They tell us what our values should be, what our image should be, and what products we should buy to create that image.
By falling into this trap, people spend their entire lives obsessed with becoming something they'll never be, and are destined to never ending frustration.
Too much will never be enough for them.
I actually know of someone, so consumed with maintaining an image, that he swindled an elderly woman out of her life savings, went to prison for it, and when he got out, went right back to his old ways.
He's a slave to false values.
If we live by our own values, we're our own boss in every way.
We have a clear understanding of what our direction and purpose is.
Every aspect of our lives is easier to manage because we base our decisions and choices on our own principles.
We live from the inside out, instead of from the outside in.
We affect the world instead of the world affecting us.
Laugh at yourself: Other than Christ, I can't think of anyone who has ever done life perfectly.
We all seem to make more mistakes than we do things correctly.
I guess it's just part of human nature.
So striving for perfection is a waste of time, the race will never be over - it's moving at a healthy pace in the right direction that matters.
So when mistakes happen, and we screw up; so what? We can laugh at ourselves, and continue on.
We learn from mistakes; they're the building blocks of success.
Be Childlike: Children have it all figured out.
Everything is an amazing adventure; they look at each day like the universe is starting all over - just for them.
Instead of teaching children to grow up, I think we need to learn from children how to grow down.
Growing up takes the magic out of everything, we need to remember what our minds were like when we were children and recapture that magic.
I believe Jesus said we need to be like little children because they're free of judgmental thinking, their minds are open, their thoughts are pure, and they can change direction in an instant.
Children don't scrutinize the truth in life; they just believe, and do.
They keep it simple.
While learning to stop racing and start living, and making our lives what they were meant to be, remember to : Be Happy No Matter What!
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