~ Buddha
I love and believe this quote. In my life and personal journeys I've found that the ability to control your own mind is both very, very difficult and extremely rewarding. It's the only path I've found to being happy. I've strayed from that path many times, but I always manage to find my way back.
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| The Buddhist temple near my house. I don't attend, but it still seemed appropriate. |
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| Buddhist temple, complete with Zen garden |
I've long since broken through the stifling need to fit in and have everyone I meet like me - it owned me in high school just like everyone else, but then I grew up. That's not to say that I don't care what anyone thinks because I do. I want to look nice for work. I want to look nice for my Bear. I do value the opinions of those who matter to me, the people I respect. However, I'm not a slave to the bandwagon and I'm okay with the fact that not every person I meet will love me. It's the nature of diverse culture and I think that's what makes the world interesting.
Do I sometimes find myself obsessing over my hair? Yes. Do I sometimes look in the mirror and begin the list of things I need to do/be/say/think/accomplish so that I'll be an acceptable person? Yes. But now, it doesn't get the best of me. The voice of reason and love wins.
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| The temple from the park |
These are the fruits of controling yourself so that other things, people, circumstances don't. It's being who you are and not what you think other people think you should be. It's truly loving yourself, no matter how cliche that sounds.
That's what I think. But that's just me.
How do you manage your thoughts? What are your biggest challenges?
22 comments:
You're right! It is so freeing to be content with who you are, without the need to be liked or admired by everyone you meet. What really matters to me is that I treat other people with respect and keep the love of my friends.
I've read in many books that you should only focus on what you can control ... and to let go of the past, because you can no longer control that ... fascinating.
I once heard the saying "Let Go and Let God". That's become one of my motto's to live by. I am very Type A personality and everything needed to go a certain way in order for me to feel at peace. These days, I've become a much more easy going person because I stopped trying to control those things I couldn't and then I shifted the responsibility on my self to get those things I wanted out of life :)
Great quote and great post! I find this very thought provoking. I'm glad that you no longer feel the need to fit in so that people would like you. I think you are naturally likeable and I can't see how anyone would *not* like you.
By the way, that Buddhist temple look so out of place in that lush green setting. It could just be me though :)
Thanks for a thought poke. I've lost that control lately, and I need to get it back. Thanks, Paige.
Go meditate.
Love this. Lately my mantra has been moving forward with INTENTION.
I was just teaching my children this this morning. I totally agree. We do nothing without thinking about it first. The only exception would be hiccuping...They sneak up on me.
Nice quote and post. It's thought provoking on many levels.
I'm happy to came along on my stroll thru Quebec City.
Wow ... you really turned out a profound and thought-provoking post, Miss Paige!
I think you've found the true key to happiness! Congrats on finding it so young!
That is such a wonderful quote, and you've really written a thoughtful post for this week. Truly, I do agree it is important for us to learn how to take responsibility for those areas/aspects of our lives we can control.
Teresa
I have to pray in times that are challenging and lead my thoughts to panic.
Paige, this is a beautiful and sensitive post!
When I have a challenge, I face it head on! I try to think through it completely so I can make the best choices.
Quiet the mind takes work and discipline! I'm constantly having one, but not about myself, but with things that keep happening to me from others.
I love your post..and happy that you're loving yourself!
What a beautiful, thoughtful post this week..
I try and meet challenges head on, one step at a time.
Buddhism is intriguing to me, I need to spend some time exploring it...
Great photos, outstanding "Q" post...
This is a fantastic post. I also love that quote from the Buddha. Taming the mind is difficult, but so worth the effort. I love that temple, I wish we had a Buddhist temple near me.
Life is such a great teacher, and sometimes the events that seem to be worst at the time bring the very best growth. Usually, even.
At the grand age of 58, I am finally beginning to learn acceptance and letting go.
It feels good!
(I still revert sometimes, but I am able to move through those little setbacks a lot more quickly with every passing year/experience.)
Good post!
=)
I still want people to like me, and I still want them to think I'm wearing a cute shirt.
I really struggle with this. Intellectually, I'm right there with you, but it is so very hard to get my mind to cooperate.
I wonder if it ever gets easier with practice. Or is this the kind of thing we will always struggle to achieve?
Is the name of the temple "Myo-hou ji"? The temple looks so different from what I see in Japan since the grass is so beautifully green that the temple looks like a golf house:)
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend.
Yoshi from Japan.
Paige, what a thoughtful and thought provoking link.
These are actually things I am struggling with right now. Letting go and letting God (or whatever higher power you believe in) can be so difficult sometimes especially when trying to deal with someone we love.
I am going to ponder on what you wrote here.
Thank you for sharing this week.
Your post was very timely for me.
A+
What a wonderful post...and a wonderful way to be (when we can manage it) I've always struggled, wondering how I can people to like me, and then wondering why the heck they don't. It's incredibly freeing to get to the point where I simply 'don't care' about that any more (other than friends and loved ones of course)...I figure that those that like me are worth knowing...and those that don't; well, their loss!
Great quote!
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