Dear Friends,
The purpose of my writing is to reflect on the ways in which our INNER WORLD may reflect, and MIRROR, the OUTER WORLD:
It is Springtime. Spring time brings about growth and change. We observe this change everywhere we look.
Take a stroll in your neighborhood and pay attention to the colors of the earth,the plants, the trees, the flowers, and the sky above you. Do those colors seem more intense now than they were a month ago? The brown is more brown; the green is more green; the blue is more blue. These are only a few of the colors on our palette. Flowers add richness of sensation of beauty and wonder. The world awoke from its sleep, from its hibernation, from the seemingly never ending grip of winter cold. New buds appear, signs of new life can be seen at every corner.
This is on the OUTSIDE.
How about INSIDE?
Have we woken up from our slumber to appreciate the changes that are happening around us? Most of us have a routine that we follow which help us meet our needs and necessary for carrying on our duties. But our inner eyes may be hungry for a change of scenery, a new look. Or, we may want to open our inner eyes, to look around, and to see life inside us springing up in new ways.
Which are the guidelines to follow, and how do we find a way of LIVING SPRINGTIME?
According to the Viennese psychiatrist, and founder of the Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy, Viktor Frankl, MD (1905-1997), the first step is to realize that we as human beings, live not only along the dimension of soma (body) and mind (psyche), but we are spiritual, spirit-beings. We do have a dimension of spirit, and this dimension is the root of our uniqueness, and existential yearning. For in this dimension we have a motivating force that is never static and never asleep. It is the search for meaning that Frankl witnessed as ever reaching out and beyond ourselves toward Reason, and purpose, a higher value, and ideal, to live for. Frankl outlined three ways in which we may live meaningfully in our everyday lives: (1) through the realization of CREATIVE VALUES--what we give to the world in terms of work we do; (2) through EXPERIENTIAL VALUES--what we take from the world in terms of experiences in relationships, through nature, etc.; and finally (3) through ATTITUDINAL VALUES--the stand we freely choose in response to unalterable circumstances.
Springtime brings about changes. At this time, we may become increasingly aware that in our world nothing is stagnant, and nothing remains forever the same. While new life begins, suffering and pain are also present. And while we experience more warmth and light with our bodies, our minds may be also actively searching to integrate our experiences in our society, our community. Our soul, and our spirit leaps for MEANING. Meaning that is satisfying, life giving, and health producing. This search is not new to humanity and not new to ourselves. It is a search, though, that we may be increasingly aware at during this springtime of renewal and change.
So which steps can we take to live spring INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE?
1. Take care of our bodies, remember, we need to pay attention to simple details, however may seem irrelevant, such as, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, buy fresh vegetables, and fruits, exercise outside if possible, and do not forget sunscreen.
2. Be aware that our minds are more active processing outside information and stimulus as there are more activities we may participate in socially, at work, or in our families. Pay attention to our limitations, and allow ourselves enough rest. This is relevant for processing, storing, and using the information we receive. In social situations, reach out to others, and do not forget to smile--reflect good-will, reflect hope, and reflect that being with others counts: we value their time, their presence, their being. Offer ours help when possible, offer solace where appropriate. Offer a helping hand, offer optimism, offer hope.
3. Spiritually, let ourselves allow silence, meditation, and quiet time, to listen to the inner voice of our conscience guide our actions, our creative, experiential, or attitudinal choices. Allow ourselves an inner dialogue for self-refection, that will help us to self-transcend, rise above, upcoming hardships, and self-distancing, happy, humorous times, that allow us to put a distance between us and that what we are dealing with. Self-reflection will allow us to remain focused, and meditation or prayer will help us to get in touch with what is really important--it will keep our inner eyes sharp, and focused.--These are some of the ways in which we can live Spring on the INSIDE, when it is there, OUTSIDE.
