No 123 of Living Life Series 1
It is not uncommon that we find it difficult to pull ourselves together to do what we need to do. This sluggishness is universal for everyone. We often give the lame excuse that we are tired and need to unwind. But more often the more we unwind, the more tired we seem to be and we may even sleep overtime for hours on weekends and after work. This may not help and we may feel worse off. To make things worse, all that we want to do and need to do pile up and we have less time to do them. This can be unsettling and we may end up stressed and decide to wait and put things off longer with the same excuse of wanting to rest and wait for better times when we can get things done. We never seem to find time and we get frustrated and down. This, brethren, is sloth and torpor.
My experience is that rest we must and sleep we must but often we do not seem to have enough of these. When that happens, do be mindful. Pluck ourselves up and get on to do some useful chores like house work or simple errands. Do not set lofty target or we may feel daunted by the volume of work we need to do. Do what we can and perhaps in instalments. While doing them, reflect and be mindful of how we want to be happy for the day, how to be calm and peaceful for the day and what little blessings we can have for the day. The housework or errand gets done. The body is energised and invigorated by activity. Endorphins are produced by our body to pep us up, and to better our mood. We have less time to be idle and to even think of unpleasnt issues. Keep sloth and torpor at bay even if not easy to eradicate them. Then, we will be much better off.
That is why heavenly saints add that we must strive on with deligence and make things work for us. But do not over indulge though, for that would be the opposite of sloth and torpor. This short breakfast article is written in the morning when I have to set out to work but too early to do so. I tried to rest by doing nothing but feel worse off . When this article was written and the thought that the values elucidated will help me to be mindful and help others as well, I become invigorated but I cannot over indulge and spend too much time on it. Otherwise, I will be late for work. Indeed, this is example of how we need to avoid the two extremes - sloth and torpor and over indulgence.
In life, there must be the balance and we must be steady and steadfast in doing so. This is depicted by the Lord Saint's image (left hand in salutation to remind us to be steady, steadfast and to stay on course and the two feet astride the elements to remind on need for suitable dyanmic appropriate balance). Cheers and be on the way to have the balance to harness the blessings of life here in this worldly life and also for our spiritual development and well being as well.
My experience is that rest we must and sleep we must but often we do not seem to have enough of these. When that happens, do be mindful. Pluck ourselves up and get on to do some useful chores like house work or simple errands. Do not set lofty target or we may feel daunted by the volume of work we need to do. Do what we can and perhaps in instalments. While doing them, reflect and be mindful of how we want to be happy for the day, how to be calm and peaceful for the day and what little blessings we can have for the day. The housework or errand gets done. The body is energised and invigorated by activity. Endorphins are produced by our body to pep us up, and to better our mood. We have less time to be idle and to even think of unpleasnt issues. Keep sloth and torpor at bay even if not easy to eradicate them. Then, we will be much better off.
That is why heavenly saints add that we must strive on with deligence and make things work for us. But do not over indulge though, for that would be the opposite of sloth and torpor. This short breakfast article is written in the morning when I have to set out to work but too early to do so. I tried to rest by doing nothing but feel worse off . When this article was written and the thought that the values elucidated will help me to be mindful and help others as well, I become invigorated but I cannot over indulge and spend too much time on it. Otherwise, I will be late for work. Indeed, this is example of how we need to avoid the two extremes - sloth and torpor and over indulgence.
In life, there must be the balance and we must be steady and steadfast in doing so. This is depicted by the Lord Saint's image (left hand in salutation to remind us to be steady, steadfast and to stay on course and the two feet astride the elements to remind on need for suitable dyanmic appropriate balance). Cheers and be on the way to have the balance to harness the blessings of life here in this worldly life and also for our spiritual development and well being as well.
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