Pure Intention : Keep it real

The thing is, life is not always as it appears.

The other day I read an article in the Globe and Mail – Saving Generation Z ….pushing back against influencers’ use of photo editing . Saturday, August 27, 2022

“There’s a psychological process known as upward social comparison – you comparing yourself to someone that you perceive to be superior to yourself in some ways makes you feel worse about yourself” Jennifer Mills Associate Professor and Director of clinical Training at York University Department of Psychology

As I contemplate my own life, I must admit, I have experienced many moments of envy.

Back in the day, we didn’t have social media but, we had People magazine, in fact we still do! I remember looking at photos thinking to myself, if I could look like Julia Roberts and marry a Mel Gibson look alike, my life would be complete 🙂

I have always been obsessed with decorating magazines and for a good part of my life, created an image of how I wanted my life to look ….just like out of a magazine.

Lately, I have spent a-lot of time surfing the net in search of the perfect recipe. So much beauty and splendour …..kitchens, pots and pans, photos of food. It’s so hard not to want what they have.

I recently listened to a podcast from Sati Saraniya Hermitage- Why Do Beings Live In Hate?

It’s a fascinating take on what gives rise to envy and, reinforces the importance of adopting certain practices in our lives.

“What gives rise to envy and hostility? Envy and hostility arise from liking and disliking … this is their origin. The way to freedom has no preferences. When we compare ourselves to others, we become envious. What gives rise to liking and disliking ? Desire. Desire arises from thinking. When the mind thinks of something, desire arises, when the mind thinks of nothing, desire does not arise. The mind is like a turbulent ocean, when it’s not trained. Wave after wave of thought. Many of us feel caught in these restless distractive trains of thought. We live in perpetual exhaustion, trying to fulfill the desires that arise from thinking and craving. We try to fulfil them, but they never end. They are relentless. There is no contentment in the mind until we can train it”

Through the practice of meditation and mindful awareness, we learn to subdue the restlessness of the mind and experience peacefulness, moment by moment.

I also highly recommend social media detox on a regular basis !

Now don’t get me wrong. I still love to look at magazines and dream but, I have finally come to realize that I can experience joy and happiness with or without the finer things in life.

This my friends, is a beautiful thing !

Just for this moment ….keep it real 🙂

K