Harmony – Creating Margin in a Non-Stop World
Harmony – creating margin in a non-stop world. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Of course it does. We all NEED space to rest, to breathe, to simply be. But how do we do this in a world that is constantly “ON”?
The lost art of creating margin
Years ago I started a blog by this very name. I didn’t know much about blogging at the time (still learning!), but what I did know was that I had lost my way, we had lost our way. No matter how I planned, nor how many hot baths I took, I was constantly feeling drained, spent, exhausted. You, too? There had to be a better way.
Some of my most favorite books/movies/TV shows are set over 100 years ago. I began to wonder why, what drew me to lifestyles that were seemingly smoother, yet definitely not as “easy” as today. Patterns began to emerge. What called to me was the sense of balance – yes they worked hard, but they also had set times of rest and relaxation. There was innate satisfaction from a job well-done, from making actual progress in a task. A well-earned sense of completion and satisfaction. The days and weeks worked in a set rhythm that incorporated times of reflection and reverence. More about this here.
Who doesn’t want that?
music to our ears
Just like a beautiful symphony includes pauses, so does an extraordinary life. Pauses are essential, both in music and in life. The pause allows us to deeply feel the music and fully take in its power, to appreciate the beauty of the notes played. Without the pauses, the music goes from a soothing symphony to a chaotic barrage of sound.
Thanks to 24/7 news, the internet, smartphones, and the “delightful, but also distracting hum of entertainment” (Emily P. Freeman), we care barely go even one minute without being bombarded by something battling for our attention. Add in the real things in life like family, friends, pets, coworkers, and it’s no wonder we are all a frazzled heap of nothing at the end of even our best days.
That’s definitely not my kind of music. Or my kind of life.
Adagio – an easy, graceful pace
How do we cultivate extraordinary? We exchange bitterness with gratitude. Trade excess for simplicity. Claim order over chaos. We focus on harmony – creating margin in a non-stop world. Remembering we can choose an easy, graceful pace over a chaotic, frantic one. Here are some of my favorite ways to “practice the pause”, as my friend Tanya, from Peace of Her Mind Yoga, says:
- hot bath, with candles, a bottle of water, a piece of chocolate and soothing music
- handwriting a note (or even better, a letter) to a friend instead of texting or emailing
- putting my phone in another room while I spend time with family
- reading a fiction novel before bed instead of mindless scrolling on my phone
- morning tea and Morning Pages
- practicing breath prayers and yoga
- listening to Emily P. Freeman’s podcast, The Next Right Thing
- listening to Chopin (playlist below) while I cook
Yes, those non-stop things will still be there. The goal isn’t to eliminate them; we live in the 21st century with all its technology and information. Instead, we can reclaim our minds and our lives by limiting our exposure to them, and therefore their intrusion. We embrace the quiet; we reflect. There’s a reason the Bible commands us to, “Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). God knew from the onset we needed margin in order to bring harmony to our lives.
your turn
Choose one thing today to “practice the pause”. Even if it’s only for 30 minutes, reclaim your sanity and settle into a space of quiet rest. Then do it every day for a week. Then work up to an hour a day. I promise the world will not come to a crashing halt if you are unavailable for an hour. Need some music to set the mood? Here’s one of my favorite Spotify playlists for unwinding: