The Art of Self-Preservation

Perhaps this is a somewhat dramatic way of underlining the importance of self-care, but I think it useful as a means of conveying just what is at stake when we neglect our body, mind, spirit and soul:  vitality, basic happiness and the ability to take any real pleasure in life.

Preservation and care of self, therefore, is a basic responsibility.

Which brings me to, what I see, as the central tenant of the art of self-preservation—the importance of making pleasure a prime value, a component of spiritual practice.

After all, what is the point in life if we don’t enjoy our lives while we’re here? This seems pretty basic to me—reasonable even. I want to enjoy myself while I’m here.

So think about pleasure, what pleases, nourishes and provides a deep sense of enjoyment and satisfaction. For me this becomes more apparent when I’m in a state of presence.

Which is to say, I understand a heightened awareness of the experience of the food I eat, the places I frequent, the clothes I wear, and the things I do, as opportunities for getting in touch with what provides pleasure, nourishment and enjoyment, and what does not.

So, learn to pay closer attention, to be more discerning.

The way things feel, smell, sound and look all influence our experience of life, and exist as potential sources of soul food. By becoming more aware and honouring what resonates deep in the recesses of our being, we increase our enjoyment and pleasure of life.

And remember, this isn’t about escaping reality, this is simply about making the most of the life we've been given. This is all we really know anything about at the end of the day anyway.

Practicing the art of self-preservation requires being open and receptive to life. It means eating your salad as much for the pleasure one can take from tasting the dressing and crunching on the freshness of the greens, as the company you’re with and the environment you're in.

Choose to care. Enjoy your life. 

It’s a gift.

Livin' On the Edge with Love and Respect

Livin’ on the edge can be exciting and interesting, but it can also be a wee bit exhausting and mentally taxing. Such has been my life, particularly in financial terms, till now. I have FINALLY found work and I cannot tell you how liberating and wonderful it is to be able to meet all my basic expenses.

I have a supportive family who have helped me in the interim and for that I am deeply grateful. Meeting the simple goal of financial solvency would not have been possible without their generosity, so thank you all!

I bring this up partly because I know I have been lax about keeping up with the writing and want you to know why. But I also wanted to speak to the importance of persevering in trying circumstances, staying focused and staying true to one’s course.

Job hunting is hell. However, I have learned many interesting things about my tendency to crumple in the face of rejection and my ability to be resilient enough to get back to mental and emotional centre and keep trying.

What I have learned is this: it is terribly important in the face of failure not to forget who you are and to maintain a strong sense of your own worthiness whatever happens.

And this isn’t easy. I have had to work very hard to feel good about myself after being repeatedly blown off by seemingly indifferent hiring authorities.

Staying true to one’s goals, one’s sense of self, one’s personal integrity and basic sense of worthiness is a life work. If we don’t have this down, life becomes a difficult entity to navigate very well. Make it a priority.

Livin’ on the edge is a workable, viable place, but only if we take good care of ourselves—if we practice the art of self-preservation. Eating well, thinking well, being aware of negative self-talk, among numerous other things, are activities worth investing in, because we are worth our own time and attention.

It all comes down to investiture. Do you treat yourself like you are worthy of your own time, attention and care? And if not, why? It’s a very basic building block. It’s how we demonstrate love and respect for self.

It’s also the foundation on which all the rest stands (including love and respect for others).

Know thyself. Love thyself.

Forging Our Own Path

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” 

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have lately been contemplating the central importance of integrity in my life, and when I came across the quote above, it seemed to speak both to the importance of thoughtfully questioning the life we inherit upon arrival in the world, and the desirability of self-authouring our lives while we’re here.

I am an outdoors enthusiast and as such am no stranger to trail blazing in the quest for adventure and freedom. Forging a new path, a unique trajectory, in one’s personal life is not so different—it requires a willingness and ability to face uncertain outcomes, planning well to minimize any risks involved and using care and intelligence in mapping out a few headings that will take us where we’d ultimately like to go.

Self-authouring is something I think we are born to do, unfortunately social and cultural conditioning (among other things) creep in creating static that sometimes makes it hard to discern who we are, what we’re about and what we’d like to do.

Thus, cultivating an ability to listen closely to that which makes our hearts beat a little faster, that which gives us a sense of spaciousness and room to breathe, and that which feels native, authentic or natural to us—homing signals all—is critical.

Living a mindful, more aware existence can help. Setting aside time for journaling, meditating, exercising or whatever activity it is that gets you in the contemplative zone (where answers often appear, might I add) is fundamental.

For no one else has the answers to our life, but us—we must be patient, we must listen closely and we must take the time to let things settle. To incubate.

Going where no one has gone before is essentially the simple, if daring, act of being most fully ourselves—the heart of personal integrity.

So, don’t settle for other people’s definitions of your life, or even what it means to live a good life—define them for yourself.

Forge your own path.