A poem
There were times when I didn’t know the word self-love or, in other words, myself. I functioned pretty well, full of energy and always “on”. Life was clearly regulated: work, a lot of work, even more work, relaxing on vacation, going out, meeting people, organizing, planning… I used my free time to clean, to exercise in a rush or to do other things; you can always find something to do. So I was constantly doing. I can summarize this briefly here.
Looking back, it was a time of actively avoiding stillness or the ability to hear myself at all. I obeyed what I believed I had to do (my thoughts) and the outside world. I served myself-made and disconnected goals and what I thought were the expectations of others. I would probably have smiled at mindfulness practices with a slight arrogance. I didn’t need them. Silence was largely unknown to me and would have been a kind of boredom or even a threat. Then, who would I be, just like that, still? Free time always had to be filled up and somehow used.
In connection with peace and stillness, the phrase “we must kill time” is sometimes used. Violent language against yourself. Quiet time as an invitation to fight. Or: “Silence … I can’t do that.” Who can’t stand time with whom? Being more enemy than friend to yourself. Weird. And yet this restless behavior seems to be the most normal thing in the world. Everything else looks rather weird.
These restless times have changed for me. I’m happy. For some years now I have been intuitively on the way to leaving this phase of unconsciousness and self-denial behind, step by step. As I continue, I know how much creativity rest periods can bring and how well the mind can find new solutions and ideas off the beaten track. One’s inner voice gets more space. I admit I’m still swinging back and forth. Sometimes more to one side, sometimes more to the other. I am becoming more aware of self-denial today. It is no longer the only existing “illusory truth.” And that’s life. It offers many opportunities for learning.
Wonderful!
Two poems developed reflecting these opposites of being. They can be read individually or alternately, in mirror form. They could only arise because I have experienced both myself.
An invitation.
Self-denial
You live for the outside world
You act according to others
You do everything for their recognition
You run without stopping
You still have so much to do
You always find something new
You work like a machine
You live for your outside world
You lose your connection
You no longer know who you are
You look back and carry on
You recognize your behavior
You feel your pain
You deny your pain
You avoid the light
You live for your outside world
You stay in the dark
You are safe there
You can hide
You ignore your inner voice
You numb this voice with thoughts
You can justify it
You still have so much to do
You live for your outside world
Berlin, in November 2019
Self-love
You live for your inner world
You follow your purpose
You do everything to be in balance
You use silence for your way
You are in harmony with yourself
You live in the depth of the moment
You are in the flow of life
You live for your inner world
You are connected to yourself
You always know that you are
You learn from your mistakes
You correct your behavior
You feel your pain
You accept your pain
You stand in the light
You live for your inner world
You love the light
You are safe there
You are visible there
You hear your inner voice
You don’t blindly follow your thoughts
You don’t have to justify anything
You have nothing to prove to others
You live for your inner world