6.2.14

Musings: On Contemplation and Relaxation...

"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival." Aristotle




 Some people think the contemplative life is a waste of time.
Why bother with mental gymnastics? Why get your brain cells in a twist?
Can we understand that an active mind needs time to relax? 

Contemplation is not just for the pretentious and the bored..
We find spaces of relaxation for our over-active minds
Is it mental masturbation to think through our confusions?

Would it matter if I was thinking about my private beliefs?
Would it matter if I was developing a retort to a caustic line?
We contemplate to be born afresh, not to pose a threat.


While keeping in line with this month's theme in Nablopomo with a new word to focus on - Perspective, I've also decided to try using/adding a few other prompts to get this blog moving. Each week, The Daily Post at WordPress.com offers wonderful prompts to explore every day. They also offer a Weekly Writing Challenge  on Mondays and we have to write a creative post of not more than 1000 words. This week, they have offered us pictures to get our creative juices flowing. We pick one of four photos; each has a special word attached. then we write any type of creative post on the word and photo. I picked two photos to write on... Hope you like them!

More Below



"What a man takes in by contemplation, that he pours out in love." Meister Eckhart  

 


 Some of us feel uncomfortable floating on our backs... Why? You might ask.
It makes us feel exposed and out of control. What if I fall asleep and drown?
Heck, what if my hair gets wet and I become someone else? what if I fart and drown? 

For some, floating as a form of relaxation is  a waste of time.
If we spent some time in contemplation, we might get prompts to help us
That inner guide might suggest we try yoga, meditation, dance or prayer.

What crossed your mind when you saw the man floating with arms and legs spread?
Frankly, I thought he was dead. Then I wondered what he was contemplating?
Stock market losses? a pending wedding? life?

Whatever our point of view, what matters is that he's relaxing and we're contemplating
We need one to trigger the other... Relax
Breathe.... Let the day go!


What did the picture above trigger in you? Were you uncomfortable or curious? Did you react in surprise or boredom? Why? There are no wrong answers; our views are our own to share and protect. They aid conversation, contemplation and hopefully, moments of relaxation.

Share your thoughts with me in the comment section. Thanks again!

 Some Food for Thought: What are you contemplating? What perspective would you develop from it? If you could do something else with your time, what would that be? Happy February! Love and Peace!

I would love to hear from you: Please leave me a comment. Thank You!

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photographs:Contemplation and Relaxation via The Daily Post at WordPress.com 

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
 Mirth and Motivation
 Positive Kismet


49 comments:

  1. I especially like the first photo, to me... it seems so relaxing. I can almost hear the sound of the water lapping the rocks.

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  2. Honestly, I just wonder sometimes how I got myself involved in doing so much. I know it's part of the territory of being a parent, but I feel like I can't say no sometimes and then end up overwhelmed.

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    1. I have a similar situation - I get overwhelmed but I get stressed when I am not busy too

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    2. It's an issue for me too... So I'm constantly reminding myself to say No to certain things... I just can't do it all and I don't want to

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  3. The photos look so peaceful and serine. My hub and I are going to be taking a trip soon to the ocean to just get away and have time to relax and escape from troubles.

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  4. Awareness is so important in the rush of day to day stuff these days.... Taking time to find our perspective helps raise that awareness.... I love this blog, thanks!

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  5. My first thought is - where is the kid that is going to jump on him at any moment. That is what happens at our house if anyone tries to float in the pool. I love taking moments to think/regroup and relax.

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  6. Honestly when I saw the man floating on his back, I was jealous. I find that a very effective way to relax and let stress go. I don't get much chance to float like that and i miss it. Then I saw he was in the mountains and thought "he must be cold!" lol.

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  7. I definitely need some time to relax. It has been a long winter.

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  8. Contemplating something useful to give and guide my loved ones. Thus, being the one who contemplate for them, they of course, can do positive results, for me, to contemplate again for other important things.

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  9. With people under constant stress nowadays, it's really important to sit back and relax for a while. I love this exercise.

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  10. My mind is always going. I contemplate a lot of things all day long. I think the man floating looks relaxed. Happy to be in the middle of nowhere, not a care in the world. We should all have more days like that.

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  11. Looking at your photo brought back memories to me of the days when I would be at the beach with my dad. Then looking at it just made me sad because I just recently lost my dad so although they were happy memories there was a mixture of sadness in there. :(

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  12. I would love to be out there and relax! I meditate everyday just to get some peace and find my way again. It's a must these days.

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  13. I love that pic it makes me think of a sunny day and relaxing. If i could do something else i would just travel.

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  14. Looking at those photos makes me feel more relaxed already :)

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  15. To be honest i would not do anything else with my time i think i have my time use perfected after a long time of trying lol.i love the pics the top one i could really see myself there relaxing :-)

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  16. Probably - either just relaxation - wanting to get away from the daily stuff - or a peak of curiosity of some sort.. - to a new chapter of my life. :)

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  17. It looks like he is floating and relaxing to me, also I see a stress relief technique, I could be wrong but thats what i see

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  18. Oh, I should have joined the feb nablopomo...I need to be more patient. In that way, I would be able to relax and stress lesser

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  19. I oddly love just laying on my back and drifting around in water, unless it happens to be a swimming pool as sometime you end up going head first into the side which is a little painful definitely relaxing for me ;)

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  20. Oh my gosh, I used to love floating on my back as a child. I forgot all about it actually, until I read this. It was such a peaceful thing to do!!

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  21. It does look calming to just relax in the water and float.

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  22. wow that first photo makes me want to just sit there and watch nature move and just be

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  23. I actually don't like floating on my back and I failed "floating" in high school phys ed. I don't think I can relax enough in that position. So the answer to your question on how it makes me feel is nervous and unsafe!

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  24. I want to learn how to float on my back. I always sink. Maybe there is something weighing me down that I never learned. I always float with my face down which is limiting.

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  25. He looks like he's enjoying the view or the calmness of the water. Nice reflections you have going on here.

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  26. I have always thought of water as being totally relaxing; I love the photos!

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  27. I found the picture very relaxing. I actually wish I could touch the tranquility.

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  28. I above photo is something I would so enjoy. Some time alone to just relax. How I wish!

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  29. I am not a great writer, so a weekly writing challenge would be too much for me to undertake. As for the picture I would love to float on my back like that. It looks so relaxing.

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  30. Floating in the water reminds me of my childhood, we used to do it in the ocean.

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  31. I've never thought I was going to drown from farting... interesting thought! Lately b I've been trying to figure out my own anxiety... That takes a lot of thought.

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  32. It is only in silence that the heart speaks. A little quiet time every now and then refreshes ourselves and opens up our mind to the vastness of blessings we have received but never pay attention to.

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  33. I really need to relax cause of work overload. I'm planning to spend the holiday on Feb 25 in Tagaytay.

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  34. I really don't have a lot of time, usually swamped with work, chores and kids.. but when I am alone, I usually contemplates on my to do list and how to stress myself more LOL

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  35. I like the view. Good for relaxation and contemplation.

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  36. Just what I needed. Thanks for sharing! ^_^
    I love the set of photos as well.

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  37. Love the top photo. It could have been taken down the street from where I live.

    dropping by from the SITS Girls today

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  38. Love this pictures. Bodies of water are truly the definition of relaxing to me. That's why I live by Lake Erie. :)

    #SITSblogging

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  39. Floating on my back is absolutely relaxing, I especially like having my ears underwater so there's just peace and quiet. For about two years now, I've been scheduling quiet time every day (and particularly on the weekend when the whole family is home) just for quiet, for reflection, and to contemplate. It has made a difference during the busy times of day to know that peace is there for me later.

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  40. Aaah..floating in the water, yoga, hiking with my husband and dog...Total relaxation!

    best,
    diane
    www.redorgreenchile.blogspot.com

    Dropping by from SITS girls today.
    #SITSBlogging

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  41. Love this picture. Everyone needs to remember to take the time to relax and contemplate:)

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  42. This was awesome! I normally get stuck in a rut, reading the same sorts of things all the time, but I am so glad I landed here in a pretty, thoughtful, respful spot. Beautiful words!

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  43. Being a parent a wife a sister ect; I always lose myself and feel overwhelmed. Not only do I not slow down and take some inner me time, I feel vulnerable when I do. I need to learn to "float" away for a bit and reclaim myself.

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  44. Aristotle was a smart man when he said The ultimate value of life is in contemplation, and you have chosen 2 perfect pictures to display true and thorough happiness

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    that's what this site is providing.

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  46. whoah this weblog is wonderful i love studying your articles.
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    ReplyDelete

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