Emergency Break

Hi my friend. I'm glad you're popping in for a quick visit and I appreciate you taking the time to read this article. Today, I want to take you on another behind-the-scenes tour in my human life, as it may very well open your eyes to the detrimental cause and affect of too much activity, external stimulation, and exhaustion. The perfect antidote in times of mental unclarity, physical challenge or emotional overwhelm is a simple one, "pulling the plug," and doing nothing.

However, nowadays quite the opposite is taking place. Although the "COVID years" inspired many of us to reconsider our life paths and priorities, the sudden "wakeup call" seems to have faded away as quickly as it once appeared out of nowhere. We are still very much living in a world full of a billion options, ever-evolving technology, and endless distractions, which only keep on increasing, as time goes by.

Being "plugged in," and participating in the online world of social media and alike, while simultaneously having a sheer infinite array of entertainment options at our very fingertips, is how most of us are spending our days. Meanwhile, AI is gaining in popularity, and spreading at a lightning speed, all the while promising an easier, quicker, and more efficient way of living to all of humanity.

As a society, being busy with something, whatever it may be, is considered a necessity for success, and be it as it may, being successful is what is still deemed to be the no. 1 achievement for the vast majority of people. The daily "hustle" is being worshiped so much so that a completely new lifestyle has already "sprung out of it," and is now shaping the lives of entire generations.

As mankind is getting busier and more stressed out with every day that goes by, one could easily ask the question, "Is it really worth it?" Everybody seems to know, at least to a certain extend, that "too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing." But why is it then, that so many of us still end up getting physically sick, mentally depressed and stressed out, emotionally drained, or even completely "burned out," to the point that nothing goes anymore?

The answer to my questions is a highly personal one. One that, sooner or later, everyone will be asked to answer for themselves on their path to determine what really matters in life. It's all about intention, priorities, and using your power of choice wisely. But it's also about investigating your own belief system, questioning the status quo, and paying close attention to your hearts deepest desires. It's about being honest with yourself. It's about being true to yourself. It's about loving yourself wholeheartedly.

Being highly sensitive has brought me to the brink of exhaustion and collapse many times throughout my life, as I get easily overwhelmed. But it has also helped me to become "crystal clear as a mountain lake" what my priorities in life are, and how to set boundaries "as strong and durable as the Chinese wall" to protect myself from loosing my love for life and overall well-being.

Your "inner light" can only endure so much before getting extinguished ever so slowly that finding your way out of the darkness might literally become a matter of life and death. Your heart and soul are delicate, sensitive, and so very precious. They hold the key to a life full of glory, wonder, and joy. They're your internal compass, guiding you with the precision of a "Swiss made clockwork," straight to the main prize in life - love, light, and peace.

For many years, I have been dealing with severe health issues. Everything started way over a decade ago, at a time when I was busy with a lot of things, as so many of us are, these days. Prioritizing my career, I was juggling with a time demanding job in a competitive industry, studying for my Bachelor's degree, while also trying my best to keep my relationship "in calm waters," and preparing for a long trip aboard. I was multitasking all the time, spreading myself thin in an attempt to "dance on every wedding," to be "successful," or what I regarded as such. I wanted to have it all.

At first, I just felt emotionally drained. My mood was swinging like "leaves dancing in the wind." One moment is was thrilled and excited, a couple of hours later, I was "down to my knees," filled with anger and rage, or sadness and fear. Than, physical symptoms joined the club. I was experiencing strong migraines several times a week now, and my belly ached almost daily. The "bright light" I once embodied slowly extinguished and darkness settled in.

Fortunately, I was able to break this sickening cycle after a year or two, as I was leaving for a year-long roadtrip through North America. The moment everything was sold and I began my exciting journey, my health issues decreased, until they were mere shadows, ghosts from the past that I was able to leave behind.

Not so much, as it turned out. It was only about half a year after I got back from my roadtrip that my health started to deteriorate, once more. Again, it was at a time when I was busy multitasking and "hustling around." See the pattern here? Trying to find a new job, now studying for my Master's degree, traveling, while also moving to a new place every other year, I had a lot on my plate. But what should I say, that's life, right?

Living like this, I eventually burned out, and developed a "chameleon-like" disease which merrily joined all the other sensitivities and intolerances I've been dealing with throughout my entire life. Never would I have imagined how much impact this "chameleon" would have on my life to follow. It turned my life upside down, spinned me around like a racket ball, and took me for a roller-coaster ride that could easily break the Guinness World Record.

For the several years that followed, I was doing what every human in his or her "right mind" would do - fighting. I battled this "chameleon" with all my might. I researched - a lot. I visited so many doctors, yet always ended up with nothing, that I inadvertently became my own doctor. I changed my diet, and changed it again, and again, and again. I exercised even more, in an attempt to get "healthy" again. In short, I did what would generally be considered the most reasonable thing to do to get my original life back.

Was I making progress? I wish I could say yes, but that would be a lie. Quite the opposite seemed to be the case even, as my health and overall well-being continued their downward spiral. At some point, I was so exhausted, overwhelmed with my symptoms, and desperate for help, that I just had to let go. I had no more strength in me as I had used it all up for "fueling the state of resistance" inside of me. And so I surrendered.

My life was put on hold, leaving me with nothing to do for quite a while. I had no choice. I had nothing to give anymore. As a highly sensitive introvert who thrives with alonetime, silence, and simplicity, this was literally a life saving intervention. Having been forced to reflect on my life, and on what has brought me to this turning point in the first place, allowed me to finally hear the voice of my heart again, as it gently confided in me it's deepest desires.

Turning inside, I was able to reconnect with my Higher Self after years of neglect and forgetfulness. Our coming together felt like a celebration on an unprecedented scale, the way it might feel when two identical twins meet each other for the very first time after having been separated right after birth. It would also change my life completely. But this time in an unfathomable beautiful, magical, and transformative way.

At this point, I want to fast forward to today, sparing you the part where I set out on my quest to find out more about my spiritual essence and uncover my soul's mission in this realm. If you like, I already wrote an article about it, "My Path to Enlightenment." For now, the significance of "taking a break," of "making room" for silence, for contemplation, and for connecting with your Higher Self and soul is what I want to emphasize and point at.

All our lives are busy to a certain degree. That's just part of our human existence here on Earth. As such, there will always be times of much input and stimulation, and times of rest and relaxation, very much like the natural phases of ebb and flow, of "rising tide and falling tide." However, with every step we take, with everything we do, with every choice we make, we are sending out energy. Energy that has the power to not only shape the path you are currently walking on, but the very future you're about to experience for yourself.

The impact my health related challenges are having on my current life continues to be significant, as I'm asked to put every choice I make throughout my day under a microscope, carefully examining it's potential immediate and long-term consequences. At the same time, they have saved my life, as strange as this may sound, because they helped me get "back on track" in spiritual terms. Not only did they open my eyes to the magnificence of life itself, but by inviting me to go deeper and deeper, I was also being transformed in such a way that I'm now embodying the very love, light, and peace that I really am.

By intentionally prioritizing rest, relaxation, and my overall well-being on all levels, each and every day, I literally shifted my perspective, away from viewing life solely through the lense of a human, towards consciously experiencing life as the Spiritual Being - the Light Being - that I really am.

Obviously, we all have to make sure our basic needs are met. All of us have to eat, drink, sleep somewhere, and attend to certain things in order for us to be content and at ease. However, the extent of what is necessary to thrive varies greatly from individual to individual, and sooner or later, everyone will be asked how much is really essential for our internal happiness, joy, and peace.

Nothing matters unless you want it to. So ask yourself, "How do I picture the very best life for myself? What do I want my future to look and feel like?" I sure hope you still remember that this life of yours is just a game and that you are the creator behind all of it. You're energy. Your intentions are energy. Your thoughts, emotions, and actions are energy. The way you choose to live your life is energy, too, as it paves the way for your future experiences, and shapes the direction of your journey.

That being said, I invite you once more to contemplate the following questions and investigate what you believe is true. "What does "success" mean to you? What do you define as "being successful" in your own way? What do you cherish and what matters to you? What fulfills you? What feels worthwhile doing?"

Ponder your current situation and dare to dream what role you wish for "the hero of your story" to play. This is about you. It has always been about you. You created this dream in the first place. Life is short, and you have only so much time to live it. So, get your priorities sorted out and set your intention straight. You have the choice to be, say, and do whatever you wish. You even have the choice to pause, to take inventory, or to refrain from doing, at every moment in your life. Only you get to decide what you want to do, and how you want to live your precious human life. That's the power of free will that you have been given. Use it wisely.