Raafia Jessa

View Original

Breathe

I honestly believe that time and energy are the only real valuables in this world.
According to Physics, power is energy divided by time.

Where do you spend your time and energy?

Think about your day. All the people, all the noise, all the commotion that we are exposed to. It’s quite normal to be surrounded by all sorts of activity - many things to do, people to see, places to be.

How much time and energy do we spend thinking about what we have to do or the places we have to go, or the people we have to see?
In comparison, how much time and energy do you spend by yourself on yourself?
And when you are alone, what do you do? Do you like you own company?

It’s a bit scary to think about.
Time spent by yourself, without the distractions of others, to think about yourself. I think most of us spend a lot of time thinking “I have to do this and this”. Do we make time to slow down and actually think about how the things we do affect us? “Am I a good person? Can I be better? What are my flaws?”

For the past year and a half, I’ve been spending a lot of time by myself. Actively, consciously. Obviously, not living in a particular place and moving around helps to create that space. Working remotely also helps - since I don’t work in an office, a lot interactions of a “normal” life are taken away.
What’s left is the essentials:
- a handful of people in various parts of the world who play particular roles in my life that I see/communicate with online
- remote clients and firms that I work with to earn the monies
Other than that I never really see a person too often, unless I make a conscious effort, and spend the energy to see this person.

It’s quite empowering.
Of course, time is a construct. So, of all the things that humans have “created” time is (in my very humble opinion) the most valuable commodity. I would like to actively, consciously use this valuable asset rather than spend it uselessly. It’s not refundable.

It makes me feel slightly guilty, all this time I’ve been spending with myself. Aren’t we taught that we should always be productive? Isn’t being stressed sort of a hobby for us North Americans? Shouldn’t I be rushing to earn, to spend, to accumulate as much as I can as fast as I can?

Somehow, it’s become my favorite commodity - time to myself - a space to breathe.
All the deadlines will be met. All the things that are on your mind, they’ll get sorted out. Stop stressing so much about minor things, they mean nothing if in the process you forget your internal self.

Turn off your phone, turn off your TV, call it meditation if you like.
Make time to spend with yourself. It’ll be fine. Take the time to Breathe.

Gaze - Moux