Time is an enigma. We either have too much of it or too little of it. You can go from not finding a spare second to breathe to bemoaning a long, uneventful Sunday afternoon with nothing to do. Too little time can be overwhelming and exhausting, but too much time can be frightening. Busy people dream of a time when they can relax and recoup, but resting all the time quickly becomes tedious and unfulfilling. You might have productivity goals and be intentional about periods of rest, and ideally, these are balanced. On top of these, you might have creative endeavors that add meaning to your life, and these activities must be added to the equation. It seems straightforward, but for many, finding this balance is almost impossible.
It might start with a series of little things, or it might start with a big thing. There are many paths toward irritability, but you only take one. Once you’re down that path, you’re committed. The mood runs its course, and you have to ride it out. But the choice is yours whether to ride it out with eyes wide open or in a state of rage-fueled, self-righteous denial. Either way, irritability can ruin your day, making everything seem heavy and onerous. But even in this state, you have an opportunity to get to know yourself better.
I’ve seen a lot of examples of hypocrisy in recent years—people preaching about ideals then completely failing, in their words and actions, to live up to those ideals. Of course, none of us is perfect. Failing to live up to your vision for yourself and your life is not inherently hypocritical, and it’s good to have aspirational ideals—ideals you hope and plan to live up to. It’s entirely different to espouse an ideal and live your life completely contrary to it because it’s convenient or beneficial.
When something ends—a relationship, a passion, a job—we often characterize the experience as a failure. It may have had periods where it was magical and unique, but we emphasize that it is over and how painful that is. Instead of focusing on the wonderful experiences and special memories, we only think about the end and the pain and regret that come with it. It’s important to remember that everything will eventually end, and with the proper perspective, you can make the ending as meaningful as the experience itself.
Everyone has a right to their secrets. We all have ideas, passions, and emotions constantly streaming through us. Some are dark and would hurt people in our lives if they were known. Some of them may be embarrassing and cause us to feel guilty and ashamed if they were known. Your psyche belongs to you. […]