Inner Simplicity
The other day I pulled a book off the shelf that I hadn’t read in a long time. Inner Simplicity by Elaine St. James. I’m pretty good at ‘outer’ simplicity, keeping things orderly and organized, but I can use a refresher when it comes to simplifying my inner life. Here are a few headlines from Elaine’s writing that caught my attention and how I am applying them to my life.
See the problems in your life as gifts.This is one of my favorites. I’m beginning to see the challenges as opportunities to grow instead of shrink.
Connect with the sun. It seems the more time I sit or walk in the sun the better I feel so starting this week, I’m going to dedicate at least fifteen minutes a day to the sun.
Let yourself cry. I hardly ever cry but I wish I could. I know it’s good to cry. Crying releases chemicals that help reduce pain and may promote well-being.
Learn to forgive. Forgiving ourselves first can lead to forgiving others so both will be healed.
Listen to your inner voice. It has taken years for me to see the value of my inner voice and the wisdom it has for me in every area of my life.
Do any of these resonate with you? If so, in what way? We can learn from each other. I’m off to NV later today to visit my son for five days. See you next week. Thanks for hanging with me. I love each of you.
Karen I really love todays writing. I resonate with every single one of the items mentioned. I’ve been going out into the sun for almost an hour from 7:00a.m. to 8:00a.m. without sunglasses or a hat to shield my face. I wear wool socks and put my feet on the ground. I feel so peaceful and centered afterwards. Last week I was composing a song on my piano and all of a sudden I started crying because I miss my mom and dad. It felt good to cry and I rarely do. Forgiving myself and others is a biggie. I’ve been doing more writing about this and feel the Lord is helping me to release things I’ve hung on to. It feels like a relief. Listening to my inner voice is so important for me and I reap many rewards for doing that as long as it is aligned with God’s will for me. Last but not least, a dear friend recently told me that our challenges are actually gifts and we have an opportunity to grow from them. Keeping my eyes on the Lord, being true to myself and trusting that I am growing even though I might be afraid or uneasy. Thank you again for your insightful writing.
Blessings Karen. Have fun in Nevada.
Thank you, Sandy, I appreciate your kind words.
I have this book too- but it’s been gathering dust on my bookshelf shelf for years! Time to dust it off! As I recall, it contained a lot of great “pearls.”
In fact, you’re the one who gave this book to Charles and me so thank you again
Hey Karen
I can relate to each of your points today, especially the one about seeing problems as gifts. I’m trying to be more thankful even when facing setbacks and struggles this year. It has helped a lot.
I seem to cry pretty easily these days since losing my Mom. It does seem to hurt worse to suppress it, so I try not to hold it in if I don’t have to.
Karen, it amazes me that we can be so far apart in age and miles and still share so much in common in the seasons we’re in. I love that.
Thanks for sharing your life and lessons with me and others.
Hope you enjoy your visit with family.
Smiles, BRC
Thank you, Beth. I agree that you and I have always had so much in common. I appreciate you.
I really like your “lesson for today” All the things you wrote make sense and i relate to several but will respond to two. First I am sorry you cannot shed some tears as I always heard “tears are cleansing”. I think I have cried a bucket of tears that our sweet Kitty Cat had cancer and we had to put her to sleep. Of course that is nothing compared to the loss of my husband and other family members. I think I must be “white as snow now”~ha! (a little humor goes a long way and the laughter can cause tears also! NEXT: Your problems can be a gift. Since I have a real struggle to walk and the only way I can stnd up and walk is by holding on to my walker bith BOTH hands or I would fall, My doctor wanted me to have an occupation therapist come to my house to see if she could help me do the things I nedded to do. She was so nice and watched as I showed her how I managed to do things, especially these in the bathroom like taking a bath. She stood in the door and watched me and had a big grin on her face as I finished. She shook her head, smiled real big and said: “Well, I see you don’t need me but you have given me a lot of information to pass on to others! It seems that God is always present when I need HIM and I ask for His help and then I thank HIM, After two falls when trying to turn around while standing so I could sit down on my walker I took the time and I did find a way but I had to be next to certain pieces of furniture to “hang on” HA!
I hope you will be able to shed some tears from laughter to the point you can call it “crying” and feel great! Thanks for ANOTHER good one!
Love, Margaret
Thank you, Margaret. You continue to inspire me.