Recently some of my friends and family have been going through major transitions in their lives. It has been interesting to see how different people cope when life turns itself upside down. The beautiful thing about Chinese medicine is that health and healing come from our ability to adapt to changes in life. The more we struggle to keep things the same, the more we suffer and stagnate. If we can accept that life is in constant motion and that change is inevitable, perhaps we can develop an attitude that is as fluid and evolving.
For example, we cannot change other people but we can change ourselves, our attitudes, our beliefs, if they are causing us distress and pain. We may not be able to change the world but we can make better choices with the company we keep, the foods we eat, where we spend our money and to appreciate the extraordinary in the ordinary every day.
Life is unpredictable and we need to prepare ourselves for the winds of change so that we are not taken too far off center. Let’s face it, crappy things happen in life. We get our hearts broken, lose a friend, get fired from a job, struggle to make ends meet and life continues on. Finding creative ways to work with these obstacles can be the medicine we need to become a stronger, healthier and a more capable person. Trying and learning new things, meeting new people, resting more often, slowing down, reading more, painting, listening to beautiful music, doing something each day to release emotions, eating well, and helping others are all things we can do to nourish and support ourselves on a deeper level that is sustainable.
If we can’t remember or think of something to do when we are feeling caught up in the turmoil of life simply take a few minutes and ask yourself what it is you really need in this given moment. You already have everything you need you just need to be willing to listen.
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