Beauty and Mattering

It seems that the chaos in the world, both personal, and global, is not letting up. There is so much division, lack of civility, unexpected endings, health scares, fears – it can be overwhelming. The feeling can be, “enough already!”
There are two antidotes that can be very helpful right now. One is to look for the beauty in life. Even in the midst of ugliness, put your focus on what is beautiful. Maybe it’s the jacarandas in bloom, the vibrant green of the leaves in the trees, the fireflies on a warm summer night, the sunrise, or sunset, or maybe, it’s witnessing a tiny gesture of human kindness. No matter where you are in the world, there is something beautiful. Focus on that, let it elevate you. Let beauty heal you.
The other place to put your attention, is on what matters in your reality. It could be your health, your spirituality, your peace of mind, your family, etc.- what matters to you? After you become aware of your priorities, think about where have you been placing your mattering. Maybe, instead of focusing on what truly matters, you have allowed other people’s opinions of you, comparisons to what someone else is doing, or getting ahead matter most. If so, stop and acknowledge that. Recognize where you have misplaced value and put your focus back on what really matters to you.
Sometimes we forget what really matters until we’re up against a wall or something happens in our reality to make it clear. Notice it now before you create a crisis in order to become aware of it. And once you are aware of it, give it attention. Since it matters to you, let it matter verses just giving it lip service. If your health is a priority on your mattering list, give your body love and nourish it, rather than ignore its needs, getting mad when it can’t do what you want. Same with the people in your life; if they matter, show your appreciation and love verses taking them for granted. It’s the little things that add up – the messages of, “thinking about you” and the little courtesies and kindnesses.
Despite the chaos in the world, if you allow more beauty and focus on the truly important things that matter to you, you can weather any storm and retain some sanity and peace. Remember what Florence Welch sings, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”
Be the light in your reality.