Exhaustion sure does quiet the mind
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Posted on: September 22, 2015 • 8 Comments
One of my objectives on this journey is to quiet my mind. I must report that is is not as easy as it sounds, yet I have found one key to this quietness. Exhaustion will shut up the mind, personality, and ego every time! At least it is working for me. The exhaustion I am talking about is the physical kind. Emotional exhaustion does quiet certain parts of the mind, but not all of them. Anxiety, fear and sadness can penetrate through emotional exhaustion as long as I am conscious. After that, those things can work their way into my dreams. Physical exhaustion calms all of that down nicely. I have been hiking most days along this trip. The quietness that accompanies me on the last half of each trip is spectacular. Today that peaceful mind happened within the first hour of the 5+ hour hike. This was the most strenuous hike I have ever taken. The challenge in this quiet mind intention is to stay “Bear Aware” along the way. I have to make noise in order to not startle a bear. I am sorry, but I know who would be startled if a bear and I were to meet. The bear has a definite advantage over my bell, songs, bear spray and self calming chit chat! The self calming chat I found myself saying today in order to deter bears made me laugh. I have been an avid exerciser throughout my adolescence and adulthood. As the sweat dripped down my face as I ascended to over 9600 feet in elevation, I reminded myself that all of that exercise lead me to this moment. And I was going to make it to the lake, damnit! I even found myself saying thank you for all for the insane stuff I had be doing in cross-fit over the past year. Those walking lunges sure did come in handy today. As it felt like 5 miles of up hill lunges followed by 5 more miles down hill. I could almost hear Wes (the cross-fit guru) reminding me that it’s not that bad and I have got this! I am thankful that tomorrow is a driving day, for there is no way I would be hiking! As the exhaustion reached its peak, a wonderful sense of peace and gratitude seemed to take over. My bear aware talk took on a loving release of all the pain that brought me to this point in my journey. Forgiving myself did bring tears to my eyes today along the hike. I have made decisions that did not serve my highest self in the past. I wanted to be loved from the outside so I would feel good enough to love myself on the inside. It never worked out. Actually it usually turned horribly wrong. In my peaceful mind, I forgave myself and loved myself more today than yesterday. This trip is the best thing I could have ever done. When I am physically exhausted all the bullshit falls away. What is left is love, gratitude (for finishing this hike), and my quirky gifts from God. I am looking forward to being able to quiet my mind without the physical exhaustion! Namaste! Kristin
8 Comments for Exhaustion sure does quiet the mind
- On September 23, 2015 at 12:16 am (Edit) JW said:
- good luck
- please be safe and know i have your back
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- On September 23, 2015 at 8:51 pm (Edit) kspringfield said:
- Thank you! I will be safe (ish)
- Smiles to you,
- Kristin
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- On September 23, 2015 at 7:46 am (Edit) Mark said:
- Hi Kristin
- Thank you for sharing your experiences!!! I have been enjoying following your progress. Funny, I find that guitar playing/practice is much more productive and focused when my mind is quite from physical exhaustion. Same concept – different application! Safe travels my friend.
- Ciao,
- Mark
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- On September 23, 2015 at 8:50 pm (Edit) kspringfield said:
- I am determined to find more ways to quiet my mind! Guitar may very well be in my future. I found fly fishing to be soothing. Thanks for your kindness and for reading my personal journal now available on the web.
- Kristin
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- On September 23, 2015 at 9:19 pm (Edit) Angela said:
- Good Work girl!! You are getting there! life is a crazy ride
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- On September 23, 2015 at 9:42 pm (Edit) kspringfield said:
- Thank you!!!! Yes it is, and I am loving it!
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- On September 23, 2015 at 10:13 pm (Edit) Sherolyn said:
- Congratulations on surviving the hike, and not finding a bear along the way!
- I love hiking, it definitely gives you satisfaction of being in shape and accomplishing a tough task.
- Thanks for all your adventure stories. I’ve enjoyed the ride.
- P.s. pkg on its way. Let me know when you get it.
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- On September 23, 2015 at 10:30 pm (Edit) kspringfield said:
- Awesome! I can’t wait! I will definitely let you know when it arrives. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Sending much love to you.
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