Life Snapshot 41.5>61

[expresslea]

Hello All!
New here, so I'll start slow and in general. A year ago I got rid of everything and moved into a new, safe place and started allergy treatment. I'm just now feeling great enough to come back and embrace life once again. My energy level has returned to allow some exercise, I'm thinking clearly, increasing my social activity and my ambition/drive has been sparked. I've lived lots of fun places and had a few great professional jobs, but have been "stuck" back in my small hometown for family reasons (I'm single) and thus stuck in my job as a teacher. There are limited opportunities here, but this job does have pretty good benefits. I need to get myself back on track a bit more, but I do feel I'm headed for some good changes.
I asked for a "picture of my life now" and got 41.5>61. I'm guessing the decrease is not so much the physical possessions I gave up last year, but I need to pare down more...psychologically? What do I need to sacrifice? In line 5 it sounds as if I do, I'll be rewarded. Please help me get my head around this; I don't want to miss an opportunity! Further, does 61 say to be true to myself with confidence in myself, making true connections as I'm gaining "myself" back?
I'm formulating advice questions next, but want to make sure I understand this correctly. Thoughts?
Sure am glad you're here! Glad I'm here, too

 

[suivis]

Decrease is more about sacrificing superficial things for those things that really matter. You decrease the things that are less meaningful for you to give more to the things that nourish you (or the spirit). Decrease and increase are tied together. You can't have one without the other.

41.5 is one of my favorite lines, especially since it leads to 61. It's about being truly blessed in what you choose to focus on and coming to a point of inner truth that shines through in everything. It comes easily and naturally and there's nothing that can stand in the way of your inner clarity.

For me, it was a period of very intense spiritual growth where it felt like the wind blew through me and brought sparks of light that shone out of me onto everyone. It's not a blessing that you can keep to yourself. But, you need to sacrifice some of the things that drag you down in order to have more to give to that inner truth. (I keep typing inner trust on accident. There's a bit of that, too, in my opinion.) I didn't decide what I wanted to decrease. It just happened naturally as I focused more on the things that nourished me, and in turn I nourished and blessed others. This experience is the one that really taught me how interconnected people and things are and brought me to understand that decrease and sacrifice can be an incredibly joyful experience. You decrease time alone to spend time with others. You decrease your old things and increase your open space or make room for new things. Decrease your feelings of being forced into a situation to clearly see where you are now and let your joy increase.

 

[expresslea]

Thanks Suivis...I love it! I read and read and took about 2 pages of notes, but you really boiled it down for me. Yes, I do believe I know what needs to decrease, but I really liked your advice on focusing on adding the nourishing things. Funny, I DO have trust issues, too. So, next question: "What do I really need to nourish myself and spirit?" (Gosh, I've got to get that light to shine on to others.)
47.2>45
Get out and be with people?