Living In the Solution
Barbara heard me out one day and caringly expressed doubt that I would reach my goals because, as she put it, I was “dwelling in the problem.” I was complaining, inert, depressed, and doing a lot of talking but not a lot of action outside of hours and hours of online job hunting and networking. I was dragging myself into a “hole.” She said she only knows she is going to reach her goals when she “lives in the solution,” by which she means cultivating an attitude of success and taking daily action to move herself forward. When she catches herself complaining about current conditions or merely talking about future plans, she knows she is not living in the solution and that she needs to get herself on track.
For some reason, the phrase “living in the solution” struck a chord within me. I’ve heard all sorts of positive affirmations and stock phrases meant to uplift the spirit and motivate the mind but for me, this simple phrase was what I needed to hear to help me rethink my state of mind. Unnecessary clutter is the foundation of my unhappiness, so for me “living in the solution” means creating clutter-free environments wherever I go. Since my conversation with my wonderful friend, I’ve focused on the steps required to stop dwelling in the problem and to start living in the solution.
Physical environment: Don’t bring home new, unnecessary objects; live simply and lightly. Keep my spaces organized and handle tasks promptly to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Avoid negative/unhealthy environments and people as possible; seek out healthy spaces - especially outdoor environments and natural settings.
Don’t clutter the body with unnecessary foods and unhealthy substances. Replace these with whole foods, consumed mostly raw or steamed. Become physically active for both health and the sense of freedom that getting out of the house brings.
Mind/spirit: Do not dwell on negative thinking or take on others' negativity; concentrate on my goal when engaging in anything difficult so that I have a positive image to hold on to. Adopt a daily meditation practice to become attuned to my mind’s habits so that I can work to make beneficial changes in my thinking- particularly in clearing out the left-brain clutter. Seek environments that are calming and nurturing (bookstores, cafes, libraries, natural settings all work for me). Read uplifting, informative material that supports my goals. Take time to relax.
One "Solution" Might be a Farm!
For several years I’ve had a yearning to live more harmoniously with nature. I experienced a stay at an eco-village in New Mexico a few years ago. The experience was wonderful and healing for me, an urban child filled with pollution and junk food, who thought that Healthy Choice frozen meals were the only way to health. When I think about “living in the solution” I can clearly envision the environment I want to be in: an organic farm. The experience of both living and working on such a farm fits well with my life goals. Both personally, and as a sociologist, I strongly support organic farms for healthy communities and environmental sustainability. My experience eating raw foods has made this connection even more obvious to me. I want to experience firsthand the work involved in growing the healthiest foods on earth. I want to see how they are distributed. It feels like a calling to me: I am dying to get dirty in the fields and to fall asleep at night, achy and overjoyed to be doing something meaningful and significant. I want to find an organic farm in southern California to live and work on but so far I’ve found that getting hold of a farmer is as difficult as applying for jobs! I’m not giving up, though. I know there’s an organic farm just waiting for me!
Happy Holidays, and Happy New Years, everyone! I hope you all find ways to live in the solution in 2009.
Cheering you on!!!
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