Everywhere we look we find a container of some sort. Containers protect and shield while inviting us to focus on what’s important. A fulfilled life thrives when we have containers that encourage our growth.
A soup bowl is a container for our dinner, our body is a container for well-being, our mind is a container for belief systems, and our lifespan is a container for learning experiences. We also have containers of time, of geography, of relationship, and of social norms.
I see my hiking boots by the door. They remind me of camping in my tent by the river and the many hikes I’ve taken over the years. My boots limit injury on tricky trails and open me to new vistas of awe. They are, for me, a container for outdoor experiences and my time of renewal in nature.
Most of all, that container represents joy in my heart.
What containers are in your life? Naming containers can be a useful way to remind us to live life to the fullest. I invite you to declare a physical space or find a symbol for these five essential ways we grow.
Your groundedness: When we are fully present in our bodies, we are grounded. When we are rooted in our essential nature, we are grounded.
- Create a container that gives you space to be alone with yourself and allows you to quiet your mind. It could be a special spot where you meditate or the winding pathway you follow for a daily walk. In this container, you meet the divine and allow the inspiration you receive to point your steps in the direction of personal growth. Visit regularly.
Your relationships: Humans are community seekers. We nest in families, and we dwell in neighborhoods of many varieties. We create social connections through family relationships, common interests, or proximity.
- When we create a container for relationships, we invite others into our circle. The boundaries of your container give you permission to allow relationships that nurture your spirit and to keep at a distance those who don’t have your best interest at heart. Consciously choose who is in your container rather than living with leaky borders.
Your contribution: Service to others is essential to fulfillment. We contribute through meaningful work and we contribute through volunteerism or donation. Please remember, no matter how we judge ourselves, our very presence can be a contribution.
- Notice where your talents lie and create a container for using them to serve others. We share joy when we share our heart. Those most satisfied in their work have careers that tap into meaningful contribution. You are a light to others—let it shine.
Your play: Play is how we allow our nature to banish expectations and unleash the joy inside. Play allows us uninhibited interaction with others, including children and pets.
- Your container for play is the feeding ground for curiosity, exercise, and connection. Pay attention to what makes you laugh out loud and be sure that is included in your container. Bonus points for regular personal playground visits, especially when others are invited.
Your creativity: Creativity releases our soul’s expression; it provides a doorway for the dream that cries for manifestation to enter the physical. When we are absorbed so deeply that time stands still, creativity can also be a pathway to the divine .
- Your container for creativity can be anything. It can be your work, it can be integrated with your daily routines, and it can be a special place filled with tools. Your originality aches to break through and your container for creativity invites that to happen.
A fulfilled life is no accident. When we take the time to observe where we are now and decide where we want to go, intentional containers can protect what is important and help us stay focused.
