The Oxford dictionary defines pause as,
“a temporary suspension or stop in action or speech.” If we take a closer look
at our lives we see that we are moving at a fast pace comprised of hectic
schedules, deadlines, targets, and aims. We seem to live in a world of competition
and comparison, driven by the acquisitions of our friends, colleagues,
neighbors, and peers. We get into this race, often without fully realizing the
consequences. Once we are in it,
momentum takes over and we lose the control switch. In our current state of
advancement, we are in communication with everything around us, but have lost
one vital connection. That is the communication with our own selves.
Our analysis of ourselves and others has
changed. We evaluate in terms of wealth, possessions, and degrees or titles
next to our names. Our value has become the value of the wealth we possess. Our
image is what we project through our possessions. We have little time to stop
and take a clear look at ourselves. Unfortunately, the only pause in our lives
may be the final one which signifies the end of our human existence. What have
we achieved…fancy homes and a luxurious lifestyle? Perhaps so! But was it a
life filled with a sense of purpose? Is the purpose only to fulfill our sensory
enjoyment and comforts?
What do we need in order to assess and
evaluate ourselves? A pause…and unless we take time to do this, change becomes
impossible. There are other pauses which nature offers on a daily basis. Sleep
for instance, is a natural pause which if utilized wisely helps us rejuvenate
and face the day with vigor. In view of our current lifestyle even sleep has
become so distorted that in spite of our best mattresses cannot offer adequate
rest and refreshment. Our worries and anxieties prevent us from reaping the
healing quality of sleep.
Stress at the work place is a silent
killer. It has many detrimental health consequences and affects our very
humanness. Anyone who interacts with a stressed out person surely feels the
monstrous reactions that stress generates. Speaking from my own experience, I’m
a totally different person when I’m stressed out and I’m sure many of you can
relate to this. Stress by itself is not bad thing. A little of it can help
improve our performance and coping skills, allowing us to push a bit further. However,
when we become overwhelmed with stress the negative effects set in.
What to do then? Here too, we need a
pause to think. A machine that runs without stopping gets heated up and must be
switched off at times. The human brain is also an immense field of
electromagnetic activity and periodically needs a reprieve to help it calm down.
Often the stress at work accumulates and
becomes unbearable. Even when we leave the work environment, the consequences
of stress can be carried with us. We bring that enormous pressure into our home
environment, which by its fundamental nature should be pleasant, harmonious and
loving. Family members living in such an environment are able to grow in an
emotionally enriching way. But when we carry the burden and pressure of stress
within us, we become so volatile that even the smallest trigger can make family
members the target of our discontent. Within an instant our peaceful
environment is destroyed and an atmosphere filled with anger and tension arises.
Do we want to be in that environment? Do
we want our kids to grow up in that environment? Day after day as the same
phenomenon goes on, our homes become just houses serving as places to harbor
our stresses, anger, and frustration. It does not take much to wound a heart,
but it takes a great deal to heal it. How do you prevent this from happening?
Again, a time for pause is needed.
A pause can occur when one realizes where
he or she stands in the current flow of life, when someone we meet makes us
think about our life, or when a change takes place in our life circumstances.
Sometimes even a major setback in life can be a great boon as it forces us to
pause and think about our priorities. Utilizing this pause to our best advantage
is a sign of wisdom. It can act as a reset button to our lives, nudging us to
take time for reflection and introspection. Knowing what is essential in life
is the first possibility that a pause may offer.
We begin to realize that we have three fundamental
requirements: the needs of the body, the mind, and the soul… which is our very
heart of existence. We take care of the body as much as possible. We also
attend to the mind through knowledge and education. But, often we do not care
about the needs of our heart. Is there anything that offers a spectrum of
benefits covering all these needs? In my personal experience, meditation has
provided all these benefits. It can be utilized by anyone and acts as a
purposeful pause every day. It’s a rejuvenating force, training our minds to
face the up and downs of life in a serene manner. Meditation can be the source
of fulfilling our heart’s deepest longing for peace and calmness.
The heartfulness practice of Sahaj Marg(Natural Path Meditation) offers a practical way to clear our daily stresses
and help our home environment remain peaceful and loving. The ups and downs of
life will remain no doubt, but we are more prepared to face them through a
regular practice. Meditation strengthens the mind, while cleaning purifies our
inner clutter of thoughts and creates clarity. This practice is likely to
improve our decision making capacity, leading to a state of wisdom which allows
us to make right choices. It provides us with courage to listen to and follow our
hearts. Such are the benefits offered by a single entity in our life… a Pause.
Let us pause and think deeply on how to
enrich our lives.
