Managing Security

This year has been another doozy in so far as my personal life is concerned. Thankfully it wasn’t as severe as 2020, though. Yet, a romantic breakup this spring along with the deaths of a family member and two friends later in the year, have been enough to give me pause. The overall tone of the past twelve months has been enough to further shift my attitude into self-protection mode.

There is also the wish for more certainty, security, and stability due to the fact that I’m getting older and experiencing the shifts in health that aging implies. Add to this, the outer world and society are going through some rapid shifts in behavior and norms. Altogether, these things have made me want to control my personal environment to a greater extent. Organizing my collections of memorabilia and tidying storage areas around the house is a comforting activity that helps to offset negative feelings.

The past few years have been a time of re-evaluation regarding material possessions and lifestyle choices. There is less desire to surround myself with stuff and more craving for external experiences. This gradual shift of priorities has motivated me to ease into a more minimalist way of life. I’m guessing that the urge to lighten one’s load is an aspect of aging, too.

Fortunately, the seeming chaos and change has not felt as threatening to my personal safety and security as much as I had earlier anticipated. There is a greater urge to play it safe yet there is still a fair amount of wishing to take calculated risks. There is also less need to micromanage various aspects of life and more of a tendency towards acceptance; which is a practical way to live.

These shifts in attitude and priorities have enhanced the ability to remember what is most important in life: happiness, healthy interpersonal relationships, and love. To honor and respect oneself and others is worth fostering. Interestingly, practicing these, tends to eliminate the scarcity mindset, as well.

Oddly, taking more measured approaches towards material things, personal relationships, and more mindfulness towards life has improved my overall sense of security. This is far from perfect; however, I feel more grounded and prepared to face the next year and whatever challenges it offers.

I hope your introspections and personal evaluations are bringing you more strength and security, too. May we all have better times next year.

Ciao

The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes author and life skills entrepreneur, Israelmore Ayivor. “If you lose your integrity, you will also lose your identity, your sensitivity and your dignity. Integrity is honesty, modesty and security in all kinds of weather. It should be our priority!”