When A Moment Completes The Picture

Everybody has their backpacks to carry. Some people are unpacking freely, every stumble, fall, burden, or point on their agenda while others don’t feel the need to bless the world with the details of their private lives. However, just because someone doesn’t invite the world into their living room doesn’t mean their backpack is empty. Not at all!

When new things come into our lives and we welcome them, do we simultaneously sort something else out to make room? Perhaps some people do. But there is a natural tendency to add the new and focus on how to fit it into the current life conditions. This goes on until “the room” is overcrowded and there is almost no way to breathe anymore. Interestingly, the option of setting something aside is not even considered until signs of overwhelm occur. Signs like restlessness, depression, aggression, frustration… followed by physical symptoms.

And here we go: I am one of those who embrace given chances (at least I need to try, right?) without thinking of the possibility to set other things aside. Furthermore, I am not the type of person who wants the world to know when I broke a fingernail or how my turtle breathes during its hibernation. This is not the reason I am on social media. Instead, I want to be a little ray to illuminate spots inside of those who need it to find their way through their own jungle of struggles… inspired by my experiences.

Let’s put both, adding action and an introverted personality, together:
Over the past 3 years, my life changed a lot due to my job situation and turbulences in my private life. Still, I wanted to keep up with what felt meaningful to me (like my therapy practice, my blog, and my writing). Although I have my tools, the intensity and the time the negative vibes had to develop have left something. Weeks ago I enjoyed a singing bowl treatment (which I grant myself every 2 to 3 months, it has a fantastic effect on me). When the therapist put the bowl into my heart chakra, the sound was silenced immediately. She stroked the bowl a few times with the same result. No vibration, completely blocked. I was a little shocked that what I knew but tried to wipe away was presented to me so clearly. It made me rethink my situation and all of a sudden everything transformed into a complete picture and made so much sense.

I was more focused on finding ways how to make everything work which accumulated. My weekends have become even busier than my workdays. I did not let anything go but to keep the overwhelm at the base and to protect myself, I blocked even more which increased the feeling of being crushed – a vicious circle. I was aware of the signs when even I tried to ignore them (like intolerance, moodiness, stress, sleep disorders, constant restlessness, running out of inspiration …).

This is not who I am and this is not who I want to be!

Realizing this all, signs and hints have been bombarding me since. Posts from our community like Annette’s or Sue’s post confirmed and provided answers. I am still taken away by the clarity of the message. AND I am amazed to remember my own posts like There Is Only Love or No Love or my post from last Monday in which I was talking more to myself than I realized while writing.
I am fully aware that a progressed misbalance in my life has caused big parts of my situation and I have already arranged changes that will come into effect with the beginning of the new year. But after the singing bowl insight, I noticed that I have to take measures even before the change in order to bridge the next 4 weeks.

However, I decided to reduce my time on WordPress for a non-defined time. No, don’t celebrate too enthusiastically. I won’t disappear… lol! I don’t know yet in which way and how frequently I will be posting during the coming weeks. So far, I want to keep up my Daily Kind Quotes. That way I may be able to post more spontaneously with even shorter takes. I want to reconnect with mySelf, empty the trash can, and fill myself up with new life and enthusiasm to provide the inspiration I want to spread through my writing.

I am not sharing this because I feel so sorry for myself or because I want anybody to feel sorry for me. I am sharing this again as information for my blogging friends and as an example drawn from life because perhaps there are others out there who feel trapped in a similar situation and who can relate to what I said here. Perhaps it gives them an idea of how to find ways to their solution. As I said, we all have our backpacks to carry whether others do or don’t know. How and when to deal with the content is an individual journey. But for sure, the way is in the heart!

In more Love and Light than ever 💖


Discover more from Share Your Light

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

About the Author

Erika's avatar

Posted by

The purpose of my blog is to inspire and shine a light on the beauty and power of the wonderful being inside your body. You came into this world to share what only you can give. Remember who you really are, conquer the world the way you always wanted to, and become the blessing to all of us that you were meant to be.

59 Comments

Beautifully written dear Erika… We need to be present in our lives to enjoy its gifts.. And sometimes we spread ourselves so thinly we begin to realise how little time we devote to ourselves…
I am pleased you are gifting yourself this ‘Present’.. Enjoy those Moments to BE….

Sending love and well wishes my friend.. and thank you for the link mention … Today I actually felt well enough to log in and answer my pending comments..
Love to you dear friend ❤

Liked by 1 person

Your post(s) have been like wake-up calls. I found myself in them over and over again. Everywhere those signposts which confirmed each other until I couldn’t ignore them anymore. And I am so glad. How blind can we be while we are having our eyes wide open.
Take care, Sue, and take your time to recover fully. Lots of love to you, dear 💖

Liked by 1 person

Erika, I LOVE this post! Your first paragraph can stand on its own, but you complete the thought nicely. The sayings you use punctuate your points.

Several thoughts permeate. I do not need to know all pedestrian or personal details of others’ lives. There is a tendency for the reader, listener to overreact or overrespond. Conversely, I don’t want to share mine either. This is s key reason I am not on Facebook. It just does not suit me,

Back to your beginning, I love the message that don’t assume someone’s backpack is empty because they do not share its contents. The quiet grandfather has an abundance of history and stories, if you sit down for a chat and don’t rush him. Just because someone is not glib, does not mean they don’t have a lot to offer.

Thanks again and well written. Keith

Liked by 1 person

We are completely on the same wave, Keith. Neither I want to look into other people’s private life nor do I want others to look into mine. I can fully relate to your thoughts about Facebook. I use my account only for posts on my author’s page. I don’t use the private one and I am tired of reading other people’s detailed life updates.
I love the the grandfather comparison. I would even say, the more silent someone is the more may linger behind those doors. The difference is that they think about what they share without leaving the doors constantly open.
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Keith!!

Like

Erika, there is a fascinating book by Susan Cain called “Quiet” about introverts and introverts who can choose to be extroverts when needed for business, speeches, etc. This is where I read this. Large companies are multi-businesses. The CEO needs to know where to invest more, where to invest less, where solid, but steady performance lies, and so on. They need to be able to analyze or understand analysis around these and other subject. The rah, rah types are less valuable if they cannot do this.

Keith

Liked by 1 person

I totally agree! As you said here, the introvert ones may even have the better strategies since they are going deeper before they are pushing the gas pedal! A good businessman is not the loud one but the one who takes well thought action.

Like

It’s quite a journey to find ourselves after going through such a time Erika. We will test the old, discover the new and finally accept what we have become because of it. In the meanwhile letting go of what no longer works for us.
And as you have said, we will distract ourselves with whatever we can hold onto as we go through this. And that is a protective, coping mechanism to give us a break, simply because we are so tired from 100% thinking, thinking, thinking as we go through it.
I ask people going through such a time (as an example I’ll use going through a divorce), how they felt after twelve months, how they are feeling within themselves,and they say ‘much better’.
But if I ask them another twelve months later they say ‘heaps better, I thought I was ok at the twelve month mark but there was still much to resolve even then’.
Our biggest dilemma in going through something is to just allow ourselves that time. Hard as that is when the emotional pain is constantly knocking on our mind. And the way we approach it can help or hinder that process.
We need that rest and the quickest path is to resolve what is causing it. But in the meantime ‘time out’ should be integrated with listening to something as the mind can’t focus on listening AND be thinking away like crazy. That is also where those lovely friends come in, you know the one’s that drag you kicking and screaming off to do something when all you wish to do is sit at home and ‘think’, you know, that buzzing of constant tiring chatter that never seems to stop. Trust me, your friends are a God send, pains though they are, but love they are built on.
And especially if our problem has reached a point where our anxiety has become crippling to our day to day function. This post of mine Anxiety/Panic Attack Help! will give a explanation of anxiety and exactly what body processes trigger it and what can be done to counter them and bring back some peace into our lives. And it works, most people don’t realise that this can be halted even though they are still going through their problems. It can actually bring them back to a calmer place so that the problems can be dealt with on a much better level.
I hope that your journey is not requiring the above Erika and that your heart is full of that inner love to guide you through what it is you are facing.
Much love and light for your journey, may it, you and your lovely friends, guide you with much love ❤️

Liked by 1 person

Mark, I just read your post and I am amazed by the precision you described the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and panic attacks. I touched all the three. Thank God, I found a way to change something in my life to break out of the constant inner dialogue with which I was thinking me into a hole. The interaction of body and mind is amazing. When you calm down one the other one goes along with it.
I experienced it all the growing pressure and the relief after making a decision and going for it. I am also most thankful for having some people around me who knew about every little detail and whith whom I could talk. Their view on everything and understanding for how I was dealing and how I was trying to find a way out was amazingly supportive. It strengthens the broken self-esteem and activates your inner power in order to be able to step back, watch everything from a distance and take action with re-energized.
But, yes, as you said in the beginning a break is necessary and it comes naturally since we need to stop running in order to sort things out and walk on liberated with a clear view and strong steps.

Mark, I am deeply humbled by your comment. I want you to know that I appreciate it a lot that you took the time. Your words are full of power and understanding which touches me deeply. Thank you so much. Lots of love to you, dear friend 💖

Liked by 1 person

My pleasure Erika. And I am glad you are in that better state so that life can be lived instead of dragged through 😀
In the midst of mayhem can be crazy but a little ray of sunshine within it allows some peace to take a breath, adjust how we see something, and take another step forward.
May your steps in the sunshine be many dear lady ❤️

Liked by 1 person

Yes, I payed my dues I guess but took that proverbal break inbetween, as you mentioned it. It is the necessary pause to make us distance, reflect, and realize what happened, where we are, and where we want to be… And… That it is a choice!
Your comments are wonderful confirmations and me me understand even better the whole process. Thank you, Mark, for your wishes and I wish you the same. I am happy, we are connected😊🙏

Liked by 1 person

Thank you for yet another insightful post, dear Erika.
Take good care of yourself, no one else can do this for you. Use the needed time for you alone.
I haven’t tried this with the singing bowls, but it sounds very interesting. I think, that I could use some unblocking too.
Send much love to you ❤

Liked by 1 person

When I went there for the first time, I was more curious. I had not expected it being so effective. You can feel what is going on in your whole body and mind. You can feel the vibration and what it makes in your system. The feelings which are coming up and drifting off or the grounding you feel coming back. If you try it then please let me know about your experience, Irene.
Thank you so much for your lovely words. I know you understand very well what I am talking about 💖

Liked by 1 person

Thank you Erika and I will try it. I just need to know a little more about it. Is it important, that I am able to talk about what happens, with the person who do this? I ask, because my Spanish is not that well and I would like to do, what is best.
Otherwise I will need to find one, who also speak English. Thank you for your help ❤

Liked by 1 person

Actually not! I am asked by the therapist what my needs are or what I feel I want to have solved or where I feel a problem to be solved. But if there is nothing urgent I tell her to simply do how she feels like. Those have always been the best sessions.
Actually, the therapist needs to do it intuitively anyway. So, I would simply tell them to do what they are guided to do.
They might tell you after the treatment what they recognized or you may have questions about what you experienced. Then the language could be an issue perhaps.💖

Liked by 1 person

Thank you for your answer Erika. Then I will do, as I also did with other treatments like massage, healing, Reiki and Reflexology, where I also let the therapist work by their intuition. I just need to find one, as I can understand. Some people talk more clearly than others and accent means a lot here ❤

Liked by 1 person

It is not always easy to make a specific decision most of all when it goes along with a big change. But once the decision is made to move forward determined without looking back, it is already so liberating and uplifting. Thank you, Michael, and have a wonderful evening yourself!

Liked by 1 person

When we find ourselves overloaded, it becomes necessary to unload, discard and do a bit of rearranging. We need to do what is in our best interests maintain a healthy outlook for our goals and dreams. Wonderful, sobering and relatable post, Erika. Take good care of You and don’t allow the environment to dictate You.

Liked by 1 person

What would I do without your support, Sylvester? You always have the best words at hand. At one point we must confess to ourselves that we need to drop some burden in order to not get stuck but to keep up a healthy way of going through life. Otherwise, we are of no use for anything. We could not fulfill our purpose because we are held back by things of which we have already grown out.
Thank you very much, Sylvester!

Like

We can try to be the end all, do all, be all, but at some point we will basically burn out from spinning in circles. In order to maintain that healthy way of life we have to trim the burdens that trouble us. You’re very welcome and have my unconditional support always!

Liked by 1 person

You’re right. I think most of us have, at some point or other, kept accumulating things and trying to juggle too many balls at the same time. It’s better to let a few of them drop than to have all of them come down on our heads and crush us. Take lots of care, Erika, and thanks for the inspiration.

Liked by 2 people

Aren’t we so similar in this subject? You hit the nail on the head with your comment. This analogy with juggling more and more balls is a fantastic imagery. Often we even ignore those balls already falling on our heads until it really hurts. Thank you very much, Olga 💖

Like

this is so good for all of us to take to heart. you have, and continue to, help so many with your words and personal insights. cut back where you need to, and we’ll be here to read and support you in any form. ❤

Liked by 2 people

My, thank you, Beth. I love doing it and I could not be more humbled to hear that it makes some sense what I am doing. Only what you said here is already so fueling again. I am very happy to be here with you and all our other friends. Maybe there will simply be a change in my blogging habits due to changed conditions and circumstances. I just missed adjusting… lol!
Have a lovely day and feel hugged, Beth 💖

Like

Dearest, Sister, whatever you choose to do only shows how very much you love yourself! I am honored and blessed to be a part of your life, as much as I am to have you along with me on my journey. Thank you for this post as it confirmed so much that has been running through my head of late. Especially the meme that talked about it isn’t what I am going through, it’s how I think about what I am going through. Always here for you! ❤

Liked by 2 people

You said something very important here. This all has so much to do with self-love or with a lack or misunderstanding of it. I don’t know how often I even posted about it because it is so clear and although we know we overlook it.

It amazes me how many of us are at a similar point or are turning similar thoughts about it. What you and others posted very reminders and hints as this post here may have stroke a chord in you. I believe that this is only the peak of the iceberg and the beginning of a really big revelation. One dropped layer makes the other layers weaker and our inner light can burn down those remaining layers better piece by piece. It is exciting.

Thank you for your wonderful and daily dose of inspiration, Annette. You truly are an angel 💖

Like

Wonderful perceptions here Erika. I am a great believer that a vacation from work should be minimum 3 weeks (at least for me). The first week is a gradual letting go of the work issues. The second week is the total break from work matters and therefore an actual vacation, and the third week is when one starts to refocus on what needs to be done at work. i.e. a 3-week break gives you a 1-week vacation from work.

We should treat our lives in much the same way in that if a break is needed from any circumstance, we ensure that it is a real break, and not just a poor imitation!

Our backpacks accumulate many things as we journey through our lives. Some things are hidden from sight in little pockets, others are buried in the bottom of the backpack. While those items may well never be seen by others, we (the backpack owner/carrier) should never pretend that they are not there. i.e. not stepping back to review circumstances, or not taking breaks as needed, or not addressing matters that are clearly impacting our journey … is simply going to cause more stress.

This was a bit of a writing ramble but, hopefully, some of it will make sense to you!

Do whatever you need to do. Hearing from a “healthy Erika” once a month (e.g.), is much preferred over a stressed Erika once a day! Take care.

Liked by 2 people

Everything you said here makes big sense, Colin. I think the same about every line and I like how you went even more into detail with the backpack. Sometimes we put something in a side pocket and forget where it is. It is still there, we carry the weight, and we ourselves don’t recognize it. Sometimes those things are even better observed by others from the outside. This is such an interesting subject and your comment gave it even more depth.
I love my blog, I am so very thankful that I have the opportunity to share and spread what I hope may be inspiring or even helpful for others. But the purpose would be missed if I forced myself to keep it going while the quality lacks. Being totally gone would not be healthy for me either but giving myself the freedom to not keeping up with a plan/schedule I once made, is like breaking a chain I felt tied to. And that is a general decision – not only for my blog.
Thank you very much for taking the time for reading and commenting. I appreciate this a lot, Colin. Have a nice day 😊

Like