“The thing about chaos is that while it disturbs us, it too, forces our hearts to roar in a way we secretly find magnificent.” CHRISTOPHER POINDEXTER, Remington Typewriter Poet
Do you ever feel like your life is out of control and you feel like you’re drowning? Sometimes we cling to the need for control of things. We feel like if we don’t have everything managed, we are imperfect, messy, looked down upon, or even like our life is falling apart. As humans, we have a fear of the unknown. Control turns pain into suffering. What would happen if we acknowledged chaos as inevitable, let go of our need for control, and embraced the unknown?
I’ve noticed in my own life, I exert so much energy trying to control things, that I can never be satisfied when I complete tasks. ‘If I just get this thing done, life will be better.’ But guess what? There is always more to do. As a new mom, I regularly feel overwhelmed with things that need to get done or that I am not enough where I am. Laundry, dishes, cleaning the bathroom, and caring for my four month old, just to name a few. Recently, I decided to change my perspective on the chaos of my life, telling myself that the fact that I have so much chaos in my life simply means that I have a beautiful and full life, one I always dreamed of.
There is no right path to getting things done, and no roadmap to living a ‘perfect’ life. If we stop trying to make a plan, and focus on things right in front of us in the here and now, we move towards a joy filled life. As we become more flexible, we are able to create resiliency and adapt in the midst of stress. We become stronger and are able to let go and live the life we are meant to live, one that is worth living. When embracing chaos, we are forced to prioritize what is really important to us.
Chaos is liberating. Doing the same thing every day is boring and restrictive. When we allow chaos in, we become free. There are many things to be learned in the midst of chaos; changing our beliefs, accepting ourselves, and learning something new. When you observe the beauty of your life, you become open to the flow of ideas and creativity that surrounds you. So practice letting go and embrace the freedom and liberation that comes with it. As Paul Cezanne said, ‘we live in a rainbow of chaos’. And rainbows are beautiful.