Do you ever find yourself examining the myriad pieces that come together to make up your life, searching for meaning and trying to make sense of it all as you consider how all those pieces fit together?

If so, this poem is for you. 


Fragments of Self

Scattered pieces lie on the ground
Resting still without a sound
Yet in each piece, a tale to tell
Of laughter shared or tears that fell

The information overload we're all dealing with has consequences not just for our mental and emotional health, but for our spiritual well-being as well. Much of the messaging around us pokes at our insecurities in order to sell a specific product or service as the proposed solution.

From the latest fitness trend to advice for personal branding, we're constantly being told that we need to be doing more. Amidst this steady pursuit of self-improvement, it’s easy to become distracted by outward appearances, and overly concerned with how you’re being viewed by others. Meanwhile on the inside, you feel drained, confused, and unfocused, pulled in different directions as your priorities become muddled. After a while, you start to experience a growing sense of disorientation, destabilization, and disturbance, an inner signal that you’re becoming spiritually disconnected.
 
A key step for staying grounded and focused spiritually is managing the information you take in; knowing when to take a break from social media or turn off devices altogether. Pausing the information flow creates space for reflection without all the external noise, so you can refocus spiritually in a meaningful way. Within that calmer, quieter space, here are seven ways to deepen and enrich the process of regaining spiritual strength and focus.

As we get caught up in the busyness of life and consumed with daily responsibilities, it’s easy to ignore those areas where things aren't quite right. We tackle our to-do lists and immerse ourselves in routine chores, meanwhile all those outstanding issues are alive and well in the background, subtly distracting us and leaving us preoccupied. Over time, we become increasingly dragged down by those issues, with our energy and joy slowly being depleted.

And oftentimes, it’s the little things that wind up having a big impact on us in this regard.

“Do your own thing and stop caring about what others think."

You've likely read or heard the above sentiment at some point, if not many times. But is this sound advice? Do you benefit by living your life with no concern or regard for what other people think? 

Despite being well-intentioned, when taken at face value, this sentiment overlooks the reality of who we are as human beings, how we function, and what it takes to maintain healthy, harmonious relationships.