Haven’t seen many Openings lately. It’s been so busy!

If we want something new to come into our life, we have to make room for it. Openings require space. One way to make the most of Openings is to assure the presence of “open space” in our lives. What is open space? It is a time and place of freedom and relaxation where we can let go and allow ourselves to be still, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Our lives are pretty crowded these days. Creating open space can be daunting; however, it is not impossible. It takes attention, intention and discipline. We must consciously value the role of open space in our lives and the benefits it brings to us and make time for it among the other demands on our lives. Making time also involves allowing ourselves the process of coming down from a rapid pace to a slower one for a time.

Open space is a pleasant to be in. Why not create it? It allows us to relax and to employ parts of ourselves that we don’t use when we are busy and running around. Parts of ourselves such as our imagination, free thinking and visioning what we want our lives to be. Open space balances us and is important to our ability to act from our center. It is a refuge at times and a place we want to be in.

Rest

Open space allows us to rest. Rest is characterized by motionlessness and inactivity, a place of peace for mind and spirit. It is a place of freedom from activity or labor. It is a calming place. This place of inactivity can lead to positive and exciting action, because we have had an opportunity to be in touch with our true selves and desires. It allows us to chart a path that fulfills us and nurtures our dreams.

Rest is an essential element in our lives. It helps us maintain our health and heal our body when we need to, increases our overall productivity and well-being, reduces our stress and improves our mood. Rest allows us to be in touch with ourselves and to process, in the present moment, where we are, what we are thinking and how we feel. Rest allows us to take a measure of our lives and chart a path forward from what we learn during our rest.

Resting creates open space. Rest is getting away, not only from work, but from the everyday activity of our lives. Many of us do not find this easy to do. We are often on a treadmill of activity that is hard to get off. We feel beholden to the things we have to do and there are many of them. Resting does not mean that we do not do what we have to and want to. Rest, here, is taking a break periodically and then returning to activity.