A journey within is a personal journey. There is no one but you. No one can take the journey but you. You peel away layers upon layers of yourself, and what do you find? More of you. Knowing too much about yourself can get overwhelming. Hearing yourself over and over again can be deafening. If the self chatter didn’t manage to affect your auditory system, the silence will. It is a lonely road.
I can often busy myself with work when I decide to take a break from the journey. But recently, as the silence grew louder, my mind grew weaker. I get irritated more easily. I get frustrated with not making things happen fast enough. I might as well diagnose myself with clinical depression.
However, when I muster enough strength to even say that i’m suffering from depression, I find that saying the word “depression” perpetuates the feeling. I become the words I say.
I know words can be powerful. I use them to pick myself up. But this time, it was used against me. Fortunately, I have company. I believe it is well worth your time to create such support structures when you decide on a deeper journey within.
People
This is my main support pillar. No man is an island. Well, I actually live on an island, but there are plenty of people on this island and beyond. With the internet, geographical boundaries are no longer an issue. In fact, apart from my friends and family, I now have an extended support group under the guise of an online club. I joined this community initially to learn more about blogging, but ended up finding not just how to blog, but how to keep on writing even during the days when I don’t feel like writing. I do recommend that you check them out.
Books
I find solace in reading (I recommend these books), and learning from people with different experiences. Compared to talking to people (which I also enjoy), reading gives me plenty of freedom to pick up what I need, when I need it, provided the library has a copy. The books I read aren’t as popular as Twilight or any of the Amazon bestsellers
Activities
When I’m not reading, writing, or conversing with friends, family and other support group, I love doing Tai Chi, running, cooking, playing the piano and recently being active in a local Toastmaster club. Doing these activities helps me balance out the silence in my journey within.
Routine
I also find solace in the routine which involves cleaning and tidying things such as the kitchen, bedroom, fridge, store room, applications on my Mac, applications on my iPhone, my google reader subscriptions, my inbox etc.
People, books, activities and the routine. These are my support infrastructure during my journey within. What is yours?
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4 Comments
Hi Shang! I agree with you 100% about the power of words. We read so often about the positive words and how they can lift us up. But the negative words define us as well, definitely.
Balancing the silence…I know what you mean!
Leah McClellan recently posted..Just Say No- 7 tips to Just Do It
Hi Shang,
What you write here rings true. The 4 pillars of support (people, books, activities, routine) are my anchors, too.
On your book list is Robert Pirsig’s “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. I read it long ago, but now that you’ve reminded me I think I’ll give it another visit.
Eileen O’Shea recently posted..Singing at the Threshold
@Leah: balancing the silence… glad you can relate.
@Eileen: I know Rick who reads this book once every year for the past 20 years! He commented on this favourite quote I picked up from the book, which reminds me how I approached the mountain I climb.