06/01/2026
~TAKING LIFE LIGHTLY~
by Christine Whelan
LIGHTWORKERS WAY
Column 2
(As published in August, 2010)
"The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly. " -- G.K. Chesterton
One of the lessons we, as 'humans being' must realize in these days of change and evolution is that we need to learn how to not take life so seriously.
It's the responsibility of the lightworker to role model this approach. Of course as lightworkers, first of all, we must learn how to apply this ourselves.
This is one of our contributions to the world, as we chose to do before we were born. Right off the bat, I've gotta tell ya, this is a major challenge. Society as a whole seems to get off on knowing the fact that it has done its darnedest to manipulate each and every living soul's mind into forming at least one negative thought a minute. That's just a guess, but I'll bet I'm close. After all, it is the media's job to fear monger.
While the Law of Attraction requires us to think positively and be grateful for what we have, our society encourages us to focus on what we don't have, that grass is always greener on the other side thing.
We have to re-think life now. We need to understand that we all have been conditioned - or programmed - to think one way and now is the time to learn to re-think all beliefs, thoughts, feelings, defenses, and boundaries. It's time to believe in the importance of lightening up, enjoying life, laughing at it.
The first step, I suggest, is to identify where our own personal barriers, or tests, lie within ourselves.
I, myself, was raised on perfectionism. There were unrealistically high expectations placed on me and as a result, I took on those standards each and every day. It took many years and a further development of an anxiety disorder to discover that anticipating perfection in anything and anyone, including myself, was all an illusion. Nothing in our lives and in this world can be perfect. We can all learn a lot from the simple things in nature. Have you ever seen a perfect flower? No. And yet, a flower can be the most beautiful thing youll see all day.
Another weight many of us tend to drag around with us in our everyday lives is the habit of worrying. Thats right, I said habit. Worrying is merely a habit. Many of us also think our lives will fall apart unless we constantly worry. Some people even feel guilty if they dont worry. They feel worrying is a sign of caring. Again, a conditioned illusion.
There is a common experience in the world called guilt and shame. Many have been raised to take on the heaviness of these two powerfully negative emotions. Sometimes, they are so deeply incorporated into our being that we don't even recognize their constant residence within us. We must heal from this guilt and shame of our past in order to see all situations for what they truly are -- learning opportunities.
As lightworkers, we see and feel others look to us, watching and waiting to see how we deal with situations in order to learn for themselves. Here, we find yet another reason to experience high expectations on ourselves. We need to remember it is important to show others, as they watch us, that it is necessary to make mistakes in order to learn. It is also very ok to not know what to do sometimes. After all, we are merely 'humans being'.
Speaking of the people around us, it is important to pay attention to who we attract into your lives. There is an old saying, misery loves company. Friends who are unhappy and think negatively will try to pull down anyone around them into their troubled world. Take inventory. Are you able to raise them up? Or are they able to bring you down?
Suggestions and exercises to help lighten up:
1 - The quickest and easiest way to start taking life more lightly and to keep a positive attitude is to pay attention and be grateful for what you already have.
In order to make a habit of this, you can try to keep a gratitude journal. Each evening before you go to bed, write down in your journal, five things you are grateful for, for that day. Try not to repeat yourself. Give yourself a boundary. Something like, I will not use the same point of gratitude more than once a week.
2 - Using humour is a wonderful way to lighten up. I suggest your favourite TV show, stand up comedian or movie. And for heaven's sake, learn how to laugh at yourself. You'll feel like you've lost 25 pounds!
3 - Work on not caring so much about what other people think. Take inventory of how much your thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions are based on what other people think, feel, and say about you.
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss).
4 - Judging others can really weigh you down. Remember, you dont walk the same walk as others. You didn't live the same lives as others. You don't have the same strengths, coping skills, and interests as others. If it doesn't affect you, it's not yours to deal with.
5 - Meeting your own needs is important, however very challenging as one of the most common, damaging beliefs (illusion) we have is that we are supposed to put others' needs first. Otherwise, we are just being selfish.
6 - Unplan your life a little. You dont have that much control.
7 - Getting in touch with your inner child, once you get past the little voice in your head that badgers at you that you're being immature or irresponsible, is a great and extremely fun way to lighten up.
Above all, and this covers just about everything, be true to yourself.
I try to always remember a Zen definition of anxiety as a mantra to my everyday life. It simply is, a resistance to change.
There are no mistakes in life, only learning opportunities.
And you got this!
~ Christine
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