Stress has always been a big part of my life in many ways. Life has always brought stress into my life and I have never really understood how to reduce stress and at the same time continue to integrate into society. But then I discovered the Slow Living lifestyle and it changed my view of stress significantly. Suddenly I understood what I had done wrong and it is these "mistakes" that I will talk about today.
My problem was that I was running on the squirrel wheel. Work, home, children, being a mother 24 hours a day, laundry that was always waiting for me, the cleaning that never got done, things all over the floor. A big overwhelming pattern that just went on and on.
It was in the first step when I started getting rid of my things that I realized how much time my things cost me. Yes, the things cost both time and money and to what benefit. I was working to maintain a lifestyle I didn't really want. Or yes then maybe I wanted it but I realized a huge thing. Money doesn't make us happier, it just makes life a little easier. And with that approach, I realized that it is the family, the experiences, yes everything positive around us that makes life richer. The money is just a way for us to integrate into society but if we never have time to do anything but work then what good is all the money we earn. The idea is to have time to enjoy life too, or what do you think?
Another big mistake I made was thinking that one job would fulfill all my needs and all my dreams but I realized I was wrong. Why should I work so hard for someone else to decide over my work, decide over my finances, decide over my working hours. It took many years before I understood that I have to work for my own brand if I want to be free. However, I'm not saying that business owners don't work hard and often work more than employees because I know they do. What I am saying is that working for my own brand will strengthen me as a person more than working for someone else.
Then I discovered that it might not be wrong to work for someone else alongside working for my own brand. I just need to find a profession where my needs are met and they weren't at the job I had. I was working on what I love but in a completely wrong way. I am interested in people, helping other people and I realized that this is what I should work with. So I started to build my own brand and strive to help people who want and need my knowledge and skills. I started working towards my goals.
Minimalism enters my life After I had reduced a huge amount of my things over a period of 15 years, I realized the benefits of minimalism. I could spend time thinking about the above points and what life could be like if it looked different. I had now freed up time to be able to do other things than the squirrel wheel. I had more time to do things I loved but I wasn't at the stage where I realized this with my own brand yet. It is quite recent at the time of writing, since two years ago and I will tell you what happened.
When life changed My life changed drastically when I became seriously ill and not just one illness but several. I stood on the edge of death and that's when I realized that I'm not done yet, I haven't achieved what I want to do deep down. During my time in hospital and during my treatments and bedridden periods, I began to think about what I wanted out of life. Now, if I had another chance, what would it look like? I discovered SLOW LIVING and realized that I have to go that way if I want to keep going. I have to prioritize the things in life that feel most important to me. Not wasting time and energy on things that don't really give me a shit. I took up this mantra in my head, I started living when they said I was going to die. That's exactly how it was. From that time I was done with the squirrel wheel. Since that time, I go my own way and for the first time in my life I feel two things: - I feel happy. - I feel that everything will work out one way or another.
And I know it's scary when we change things, we're people of habit. I, if anyone, know this because I had periods in my life when my stress level was incredibly high and when every small change in life gave me strep throat. I used to have a sore throat more than 4 times a year and these first four times were always the change of seasons, then it was a job change or some other change that caused it. My body was then, due to stress, incredibly sensitive to changes but now that I don't stress so much anymore, the body is completely on board with the changes and therefore I feel better and better with every change I make. Of course the body is strange in this way, but I am living proof that the body can react so strongly to different conditions depending on what is at the bottom.
So what can you do to become happier yourself? - Realize that more is not always better - Set your highest dreams and goals and work to achieve them The challenge and chasing after the goals should be a fun part of the road. I went to the psychologist myself yesterday and when I told her about my goals that I am now working towards achieving, she said, your whole body shines when you talk about this. Make sure you shine too =). - If you feel overwhelmed, write a list of things that overwhelm you and slowly but surely start working on reducing them. I know, not all things can be reduced like for example screaming children, believe me I know, I have my own son who screams all the time. Then reduce points that you can reduce, for example the things in the home, stop saying yes to everything, be clear at home with your needs. - If you only have minimal time and feel like you don't have time, give yourself 15 minutes a day to work towards your goals. I started with 15 minutes a day and I saw such great benefits from this that I was able to eventually increase the time because I realized how important this was to me and my future and survival. - Prioritize what is important to you - Ask for help A person should not have to handle everything by themselves. My psychologist has taught me a lot about expressing my needs, speaking up when I need help and not saying no when someone offers to help. Alone is not always strong, believe me I know I tried that method too but I was wrong. Last but not least, I want to once again press this shining thing. Allow yourself to shine like the sun. Then you have found happiness. Good luck.
