Recently I visited a museum which aimed to highlight the living conditions of the local working class population at various time intervals in history – it went back to 1805 and then each subsequent house advanced on another 50 years. What immediately struck me was how primitive and harsh life was back then, and more alarming still, two of the examples were from 1955 and 1985 in the UK. Some of the examples had no flush toilets, hot running water, central heating, vacuum cleaners, colour TV or many of the other conveniences we assume are necessities today.
I speculated that life then had as many wonderful and special moments of joy and wellness as we have today. Then, as now, likely 30% of those living in the UK would have rated their life as very happy (see September 23 Reflection, THE EXCHANGE RATE BETWEEN MONEY AND WELLNESS). Once the hurdle of serious poverty is overcome, more money does not translate into more wellness.
As I looked at these simpler environments of earlier generations, I admired the bravery and determination of those bygone years and wondered what the missing link today was? Resilience and tenacity, I concluded. Life was tough, creature comforts were limited, but people still got up in the morning with purpose and a smile.
Unfortunately, today we seem to expect comfort and convenience or else we complain. Rather than looking inside for purpose we turn to Amazon or the internet for a remedy. A better prescription would be resilience. Training one’s resilience occurs when one mindfully adjusts to and positively embraces your current circumstance, especially when it is less than ideal.
Being without something you want, savouring the longing and then resolving that you are better without it matures your emotional suppleness and makes you a better person. Being determined to want less and being grateful for what you have demonstrates what your real needs are. This focuses your tenacious energy to do what is necessary to achieve your higher goal.
Wonderfully, exercising one’s resilience and tenacity is, of itself, empowering, joyful and uplifting.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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