Staying connected and in touch with the ‘Essential You’

In today’s fast-paced world of business and personal life we have a number of ways in which we can get and stay connected with each other. Through the wonders of technology we can connect instantly through satellite, e-mail, telephone and cell phones. We have devices that allow us to connect, schedule, read e-mail remotely and be as up-to-date as possible. With so many ways to get and stay connected, 24/7 connectivity is becoming a way of life. The irony is that with all of the technology that enables us to do things faster and better, rather than giving us more time, we now expect ourselves to do more and be reachable and accessible virtually all of the time. Instead of having more time, we seem to have less. Instead of feeling more in control, we are feeling more pressured and stressed. What about our connectivity with ourselves? Are we making and taking the time to know and be who we are? We are not our jobs. We are not the labels that get ascribed to us. We are not our roles. Somewhere beneath these various layers of descriptions that come to define who we are, there is a unique essence that is you and is longing for connection. The essential you is tha part that is unique, whole and complete, and has infinite wisdom. The essential you is more than your brain and more than your mind. It is your mind, body and spirit and it has four aspects to its intelligence – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Young children are very connected to their essential selves. They are spontaneous, very much in the moment and able to respond to and express what they are experiencing. As we grow up and become “socialized”, we are encouraged to develop our mental intelligence and ignore the other aspects of our intelligence. As a result, paying attention to gut feelings or instinct can be considered as foolish. We become outwardly very well connected and the connection to the essential you is diminished. Think about what you were doing when you took your last shower. Were you relaxing and enjoying the feel of the water on your skin, or were you busy being mentally somewhere else? When do you take time to just be, without any agenda, and be fully present with yourself? You may already be busy saying to yourself “but I don’t have time”. Whose life are you spending time living? Connecting with yourself does not require becoming a recluse or sitting on a mountain top. A few minutes at a time will get you there. Take a walk in nature. Sit quietly and just be. Follow your gut instinct, sometimes. And remember that like anything else, it takes practice. Be patient and have fun with it. The joy is in the journey. badthoglous@yahoo.com The author is a Management Information System’s manager