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Eat, Pray, Love

15 August 2010 18 Comments

Sick of this movie and book yet?

I am so drawn to seeing this movie. I count it as a good thing that I could not dig up a girlfriend who was free this weekend to see it, because ultimately I went out and bought the book.

This movie could not have come out at a better time for me, because very honestly, I find myself on a page in my life where all I feel is unhappiness and negativity. The past year has SUCKED in a big way. The idea of vanishing for a year on some inner spiritual journey and working towards clarity is something I would give my left arm for. Yet…..by the same token, I could never at this point in my life leave my son for that long a period of time

This is not who I am. I am the person who always saw the bright side of things. I always had a knack for letting things go and not digging them up later as weapons. I was the kind of person that people wanted to be around. I had a social calendar rivaling that of  Paris Hilton, but on a much healthier scale.

I’m not me. One bit. I am cranky. Everyone around me is cranky. And life goes on in the world while I just sit here and get more and more negative. I am missing out on life, friends, family, adventures and FUN.

This week I dug up an article  that I just keep re-reading. One night I googled “living defensively” on the notion that SOMEONE out there may have possibly or remotely have felt the way I do. And bam…there it was:

The Art of Shaping Your Beliefs

Read it. The opening question……..Are your beliefs shaped by your experience or do you experience what you believe?

Didn’t take me longer than two seconds to answer that one.  And the result of my answer…..Defensive attitudes around your beliefs mean that your experience shapes your beliefs. This smacked me in the face several times.  I realize……I perpetuate feeling awful because I’m not open to anything new or positive.

Have you read the Eat, Pray, Love? I am on page 116, having picked it up just yesterday.  So many of the things she writes ring bells all over the place for me. Maybe she wasn’t living defensively, but she was living within tight walls.  The book is her journey into expanding herself and pickup herself up and out of a life less than satisfactory.

I have decided to let go. Let go of the past. Let go of living defensively and get back to ME. The me that enjoyed everything. Found humor in everything.  Didn’t sweat the things that are really irrelevant.  Who cares HOW the house got cleaned…it got cleaned. Who cares that someone was 15 minutes late or that they didn’t do something MY way. It doesn’t matter.

When you have to defend any position, you are limiting your ability to bring full awareness into the situation. This limitation results in being surrounded by challenges, lack, and other forms of negativity. Over time, you become keenly aware of life as something that is lacking the strength to exist on its own terms without having to take defensive actions to protect something that is too weak to exist fully on its own.

See that paragraph above? I have printed that out from the article link above and have it staring me in the face by my desk.  I’m done living a life that’s limited because of my walls, fears and past.  I’m done with trying to get things to go the way I want them to. I’m back to enjoying life again and everything it brings me.

Have you read the book……and will YOU see the movie with me?

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18 Comments. Click to leave one of your own!

  • August 15 2010 at 7:02 PM blueviolet said:

    I started the book but never finished it because it was due back at the library, but I will see that movie with you!

    I can relate to having a terrible year, but I finally turned things around and made overdue changes. I’m happy again. You will be too.
    .-= blueviolet´s last blog ..I Zazzled! =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:46 PM

    I STILL have not seen this movie!!!

    [Reply]

  • August 15 2010 at 9:04 PM Amy
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    I am trying to work on this too. Haven’t read the book and might not have the time for years and I am trying to be ok with that too.

    Sorry you had a crappy year. There really has been a lot of crap going around. Let’s all just swim out of it together.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:47 PM

    It really was a terrific book. I know there are some who don’t agree with me. Would love to know what YOU think!

    [Reply]

  • August 15 2010 at 9:17 PM Niki said:

    I’m reading the book right now. Well, not now now. I’m in the India/spiritual section of the book. Which, in my opinion, isn’t as good as the Italy section. But it’s still interesting. I’m looking forward to getting to the Bali section.

    As for the movie, I’ll probably wait for the DVD.

    And, I’m with you on the crappy year. The past year for me, starting last summer, has been one of the worst of my life. But in the midst of all that horribleness, I’ve grown closer to God and have gotten stronger. The fear is gone and I have peace.

    All the best to you!
    .-= Niki´s last blog ..Greener grass Blessings and a wedding =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:49 PM

    How did you end up liking the book??

    Hoping that your year is picking up for you!
    xoxo

    [Reply]

    Niki


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 2:53 PM

    I didn’t really care for it. I wrote a review at my blog.

    This year is going pretty much the same as last year, but I’m believing for a change.
    Niki´s last [type] ..Sense and Sensibility

    [Reply]

  • August 15 2010 at 9:23 PM natalee said:

    i’m getting the book on amazon and i will see the movie with you my friend!!!!!!
    .-= natalee´s last blog ..The reunion list =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:52 PM

    Did you get it? Did you read it??

    I still haven’t seen the movie!

    [Reply]

  • August 16 2010 at 12:17 PM subWOW said:

    I am very happy for you. I am happy for me too since this means you are coming back, right? RIGHT?!

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:54 PM

    I’m getting back into it. I’ve been so busy with work and thefertilityblogs.com project. I miss the blogging…it was the only place I could talk about ME….uninterrupted :)

    [Reply]

  • August 17 2010 at 1:04 AM Kelley said:

    A few girlfriends and I are going to see the movie tomorrow night. Actually, it’s a pretty tough night for me to go, but, after reading this post, I feel like I must make it happen somehow! Hmmm… I also appreciated this post because someone comes to mind immediately when I think of someone living defensively. Maybe I should try to get this post or that article or that book in their path. Anyway, thanks for this post! Also, I’m so glad you posted your “definition” on my “Captcha Balderdash #2″ game! That’s so crazy that your words were “lactation mammogram”. Ha!

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 12:58 PM

    What did you think of the movie? I still haven’t seen it and I’m bummed about that!

    [Reply]

  • August 22 2010 at 7:23 PM Ivy said:

    I was going to go see the movie, but I think I’ll wait for the book. I am just getting out of the rut it sounds like you’re in. It really does take a conscious and deliberate effort to get out of it.

    Right now I’m reading “Fearless” by Max Lucado. It’s another good one for mood busting. For me, the negativity transformed into a anxious fear to go for my dreams… excuse and excuse.

    Good luck! I’m going to check out the link right now.
    Ivy´s last [type] ..Dear Dear Blank Users-

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 1:09 PM

    Any more book suggestions for me??

    I’m glad you’re getting out of your rut. Any words of wisdome…pas them along!

    [Reply]

  • August 30 2010 at 3:05 AM kristin said:

    I’m gathering up the girlfriends for a late movie night this week – can’ hardly wait!

    kristin

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : September 20th, 2010 at 1:13 PM

    Did you get to see it??

    [Reply]

  • September 2 2010 at 12:03 AM Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip said:

    I’m sorry you’ve had a suckish year. But I’m glad that you found some great inspiration in this book. I’ve heard it is amazing and I actually own a copy but haven’t read it yet. Based on this post though, I think I need to crack it open right away. Hope things continue to look upwards for you.

    [Reply]

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