301-Would You Like A Day Off?
In a previous post I suggested breaking free of all of your digital communication and work tools and simply taking time to breathe, think, and recharge your mind and spirit. If you’ve tried it, you know what I’m talking about. It feels liberating and rejuvenating.
Now, can you imagine feeling that way for an entire day? Not just a few minutes here and there, but an entire day of relaxation and spiritual and emotional awareness. It sounds difficult, nearly impossible, and utterly unrealistic. Well, it’s not. Actually, people have been experiencing that day I’m describing for thousands of years. It’s called the Sabbath. Most major religions have a Sabbath day on which you refrain from going about your normal work routine and instead, focus solely on spirituality, personal, and family relationships. Judaism goes a step further and prohibits the use of all electronic devices on the Sabbath. Yes, that includes phones, computers, Ipods, Blackberrys, and any other hitech gadget you feel you can’t live without.
There are plenty of theological and mystical reasons for Sabbath observance, but the main reason that applies to everyone, religious or not, is that opportunity to take control of your life that I’ve been talking about. Even totally secular minded individuals (sabbathmanifesto.org) are recognizing the power of having an entire day to recharge and rejuvenate.
The Sabbath gives us the opportunity to break away from the gadgets that bind us and voraciously suck our energy leaving us physically and mentally drained, and recharge and rejuvenate. Instead of looking at digital screens and listening to distant voices, we can focus on seeing the beauty of nature and listening to the voices of our loved ones standing right before us. It takes discipline to keep yourself from falling back into the old ways of TV, computers, and cellphones, which is evident from the multitude of rituals and regulations associated with Sabbath observance in traditional Judaism. It isn’t always easy, but if taken seriously, can be an incredibly liberating and empowering experience…every week.
What do you think of having one day off every week to focus on your personal growth and well being? Have you tried it?
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