A PAUSE IN LIFE

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.