Daniel Harrison 1. Slow down
I have an innate propensity to hurry through tasks, even if I am not time-pressed to do so. Getting ready, running errands, chopping vegetables, it doesn’t matter; I rush through it all. I don’t like being rushed or experiencing the stress that comes with it, especially if it’s not necessary. I’m making an effort to be more self-aware and to slow down whenever I feel like I’m rushing without good reason
2. A decrease in flawlessness
We’ve had at least one member of the family sick with a nasty virus (not COVID, thank goodness!) for the better part of the month of November. The strain has been felt by everyone, and I’ve come to the conclusion that compromises must be made. As a result, we no longer feel the same pressure to have a “perfect” house before retiring each night. If the place needs it, Joe and I will do a little cleaning, but otherwise we’ll just turn out the lights and go to sleep. Rest has been much more important than having a spotless house during this time in my life.
3. A decreased need to hoard
Lessons learned from my spending freeze continue to inform my present and future decisions, especially when it comes to my wardrobe and accessories. I do most of my shopping online, and while I have placed more orders than earlier this year, I have also returned more items. I’ve gotten to a place where I’m much more comfortable saying “no” to things that aren’t for me and am less sentimental about material possessions. In the same vein, I’ve learned to appreciate a more leisurely pace while out shopping. Although the slower method requires more effort and time, it usually results in purchases that I am happy with and will keep for a long time.
4. Increased attention to the here and now
My efforts to practise less attachment have even extended to other areas of my life, such as my finances. I’ve been using it in other contexts as well, especially when it comes to getting the results or accomplishing the goals I set for myself. I’ve been trying to take a light approach to all of this, not making things more complicated than they need to be and not trying to talk myself out of decisions I’ve already made.
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Active meditation, in which one focuses on the happenings of the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or the future, has been most helpful to me in this regard in my day-to-day life.
5. Increased Confidence
For some reason, the Thanksgiving of a year ago has recently been on my mind (and the entire holiday season in general). When I think back on last year, I realise that I pushed myself too far. My family and I were spending a lot of time with a lot of people, and I felt like I needed to do more, more, more to make the whole season special for them.
The truth is that with just a little bit of forethought (and the assistance of others), I can create an experience that is delightful on its own. Whatever it is that we decide to put our attention on during this hectic time in our lives, I am confident will be sufficient.
