Baring My Soul is a category of writing where I share a personal piece of my life’s journey in an effort to do my part in maintaining connection because when we share our stories, we let someone know that they are not alone.
Recently, I was sharing with a friend a feeling I had been having that most of us have experienced. I told her my version of “I’m so happy in this area of my life, it’s almost scaring me”. The conversation that followed reminded me of concepts such as why the center (i.e. being centered) is an ideal space on the emotional spectrum, what it means to be at peace, and lastly, how there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this type of emotional development and work.
The center is an ideal space on the emotional spectrum because there lies our ability to feel deeply yet with a level head and heart. The center on some level represents a balance of all of the emotions on the spectrum. So versus going to either extreme (i.e. positive/negative, good/bad, light/dark, etc.) of the emotional spectrum, our priority should be to maintain a centeredness-approach in order to adequately feel our emotions yet not lose control to them. When we experience an extreme of an emotion, we are experiencing that emotion at such a heightened level that it is not or should not be sustainable. Overtime, experiencing extreme lows can cause us to fall into states of deep depression or defeat. On the other hand, experiencing extreme highs overtime can have us constantly chasing feelings of joys that are not feasible. Being able to remain in the center speaks to our ability to healthily maintain a “peace within” that is capable of being sustained.
Peace is that feeling and place within that we all long for. It looks different for each of us yet it is the same. It is that well-rounded serenity within us that is not perfect, but it is whole. It is that beautiful, complete, and still feeling within. Once we are aware and enlightened of the presence of the “peace within” we will desire to revisit it over and over and over again - as we should. To be at peace is to have harmony with one’s mind and soul. To be at peace is to allow serenity and tranquility to occupy our spaces. To be at peace is to experience centeredness and fullness at the most genuine level. And peace isn’t a feeling that is reserved for some of us, we all desire to be consumed with peace as often as we wish because it is the ultimate state of being. Peace is the supreme emotion because it isn’t about the absence of bad or the presence of good - it’s about not being consumed with either.
I wish there was some one-size-fits-all formula to finding peace and getting centered, but thus far life has shown me that there is not. I know that many tools exist to help us figure out how to figure out what works for us and what does not. More than anything, we have to have the strength and willingness to try various strategies that help us get centered and fill us with peace because those spaces of the emotional spectrum are where we thrive like we were created to.
Much love.