Subtraction

Its almost the shortest day of the year and that means winter is almost half way through! All I hear from people all day long, whether its in a corporate wellbeing webinar for executives, or a mindfulness training group or a patient in my treatment room is: “Where is the time going?” People keep lamenting that they are busier than ever, have less down time, are fatigued and drained and burnt out and are sick of the drudgery of life in the Covid pandemic. So this blog is all about how to change that feeling of despair and restore your energy. It’s inspired by Oscar Wilde’s thought-provoking quote: “To live is the rarest thing of all. Most people exist, that is all”.

I think to be able to live more fully, we need to be willing to let go of things that have run their course. To stop doing things that no longer serve us. To choose very carefully what we say "Yes" to and use the word “No” as liberally as we did when we were 2 years old. It’s simple maths, we can’t keep attending to and paying attention to more things. We have to choose and choose wisely.

 I find this very hard, just as I am sure you do, but it’s about the most vital skill of all in 2021. What can you cull? Think of the physical plane, the mental plane, the spiritual plane and the emotional plane.

• You can start by letting excess stuff go. Give away an item a day for a month.
• Let excess weight go. Eat a little less every day, or at least let go of the treats you don’t need.
• Let go of any un-dealt with conflicts or go back and clean them up so you feel you can let them go. Unless you feel totally at peace with every person and situation in your life, you may have some culling to do.
• Let go of beliefs that don’t serve you anymore. This takes reflection and evaluation.
• Let go of habits that waste time- social media, scrolling with the TV remote, checking your WhatsApp every 5 minutes, not planning your day properly.

Let go of friends and relationships that no longer have a place in your life. Some friends are only in your life for a season.

I’m sure you can think of many other things you can cull.

In SA it’s Wintertime, a season for shedding. Let’s use this time to shed, so we have energy and zest for regrowth in Summer.

I wish you a clutter free and magnificent month of June

Love Sue