It's All in the Setup...
- Melanie Hutton, Innertegrity
- Jun 7, 2023
- 6 min read
My attention, now more often than ever, is caught by the moments when people describe the ongoing stress and overwhelm in their lives, often following really similar patterns to past stories I have heard. They say they long for more simplicity, more time for themselves, quality time with family and friends, relaxation. As I listen, I can hear that they are not making the connection between the formula they have repeated and their experiences being filled with stress. I’m sure we have all been in conversations with people who can lead with things like, “I’m so busy I barely have time to take a shower,” or “I’m up against this deadline that’s just killing me,” or “I’m sorry I haven’t called for so long, I just never seem to have time to socialize,” or “My upper body is so tight because I’m at my computer all day long just trying to get this project done.” There are even moments like, “I’m too busy to be in a relationship,” or “I don’t have time to cook because I’m always working,” or “I wish I had more time with the kids but I’m so busy trying to finish up these house projects.” I know a couple who would continuously complain about how much work their big beautiful home was with all the remodels and upkeep, and how they wanted to simplify, only to purchase another very large home in another city and start remodeling! Might seem like a blatant example of choosing stress and insanity, but it’s a true story and illustrates how much we can subjugate our deeper desires to repeated stress-filled choices. It’s an addiction that our society is facing, keeping up with the Joneses, Fear of Missing Out, and yet we all carry deep within us that deep desire for more time, more space, more connection.
