True
Nature
“Develop
interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature,
music—the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures,
beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
Henry
Miller
We all have our places of
comfort—some of us are solitary, and some of us thrive in the
social scene. As I've said many times, I am, by nature, an introvert.
It's easy for me to withdraw from the world and keep my own company.
You may be, and likely are, more extroverted. Most Americans are
extroverts, and they love crowd scenes and packed houses. They love
to dress up and go out, while introverts prefer to put on their
pajamas by seven and read a good book. Whatever our inclination, we
can get seriously out of whack if we squat overmuch in our comfort
zones.
Introverts get caught up
in their heads, and literally lose track of external reality. As
alluring as that may sound at times, it's not a healthy lifestyle. It
leads to eccentricity and just plain weirdness. Extroverts, on the
other hand, become so involved in socializing, in flitting from one
scene to the next, one person or party to the next, that they lose
themselves entirely, and become scattered, shallow and exhausted. That is
equally unhealthy. The trick is to be aware enough of oneself to
consciously bring balance.
Attempting to go against
the flow of your nature feels awkward. For instance, I'm never going
to totally comfortable at a crowded cocktail party. Most extroverts
are not going to take a silent retreat. But we can bring who we are
into the world nonetheless. I can go to a party and engage with one
person at a time, or I can stand on the edge of a group and observe
their interactions. If you are extroverted, you could spend one day a
week alone, and even if you do nothing but fold laundry, it will give
your nervous system a rest. What is necessary, of course, is
self-awareness and planning. It's important to recognize when you are
isolating, or overextending, and consciously making adjustments to
your schedule.
There is much to see and
do in this world, many interesting people and places. It is also
essential to respect our own true
nature. What is required is balance. A healthy lifestyle involves
attention to both our inner and our outer worlds. A candle burned at both
ends quickly expires, but a candle never lit stays dark. I hope
your candle is burning brightly today—but only at one end.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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