hasunoha

I can't find a place to calm myself

I can't find a place to calm myself. I am in a blessed environment where I can make my dreams come true, both at work and in private.
However, my passion for what I've been seriously working on faded one day, and my feelings didn't stick to it, and I began to feel limited. “It's a reality, but even so, we have no choice but to live,” and if we continue to live that life, we are struck by a tremendous sense of emptiness, where our mind and body are separated.

Even if I start something in the future, I end up repeating this emptiness, and I feel like I won't be able to reach a place of peace of mind.

I've cherished and faced things I've found value in my life up until now, but they generally don't match the values recommended by my partner and the world, starting with my parents' family, and the number of people I can relate to decreases with age and experience, and I feel lonely.
I think life is a place of learning. Even if “learning is life,” I also think humans cannot live by itself.
Can you give me some guidance on what kind of mindset I should live with in the future?
Thank you for your support.

4 Zen Responses

Losing your old passion is a sign that you are moving on to the next level.

Nice to meet you. It's called the monk's hearing method.
I would like to express my sincere respect for the steps you have taken until now, to stick to your own beliefs and give shape to your dreams. There is probably a “now” only because you have directly faced what you find value in without being swept away by public values.

However, when your passion fades and you are struck by emptiness, it may be proof that your heart is out of breath as you live your “role” and “results.” In Buddhism, it is explained that “all actions are impermanent.” It is a natural law that passions, environments, and even people's minds change. Please accept that the loss of your former passion is not that you have become lazy, but that it is a sign that your “relationship” with that target has matured and moved on to the next stage.

Currently, they are in their 50s. From now on, isn't it time to let go of the burden of “the self that accomplishes” something and just take care of “who is there?” Feeling alone is the opposite of the nobility of standing on your own feet without being dependent on anyone.

Before “mind and body are separated,” please first adjust your breathing quietly and only think about spending a peaceful time today as a single person who is nothing. There is no need to rush for an answer. The richness of “sky (sky)” appears once you let go of your obsession.

What is the burden you feel most “want to let go” of right now? Let's think about it and try to solve this if possible. Also, “emptiness” is greatly influenced by how one sees oneself. Affirming “who you are here and now” will lead to a step towards a solution.

Worship
Engiji Temple Shakujo

Life has twists and turns

I read it.
I read your feelings. You feel so empty because you can't face what you've been working on with passion. I don't know the details of you or your surroundings, but I really understand your painful feelings.
You can't find a place to calm your mind. I think there are times when we lose such emptiness, reluctance, and energy as we go about our lives.
That happened to me before, too. Even though I worked so hard every day, there were times when I didn't feel motivated to do anything and just feel empty.
There were times when it wasn't easy to agree with the people around me and I was isolated. There were times when I gave up wondering if that was life too. Therefore, this may happen in various aspects of life.

For example, it might be a good idea to pray at a temple and attend zazen, puja, or nembutsu, or go out to a foreign country or somewhere else in Japan.
There will also be various encounters, and there will also be various feelings and discoveries.
You may also encounter changes in your way of life and outlook on life.
There are twists and turns in life, isn't it?

I sincerely pray that you will be blessed with various encounters in the future and that your life will be enriched, and that you will be able to live a healthy and fulfilling everyday life.
And I will support you from the bottom of my heart.

Increase community, broaden horizons, and make it easier to accept values

I also read my profile. You've grown up to this point while being able to find issues within you, haven't you? You are so proud of yourself, and you must have had a fulfilling day.

It's a feeling that passion is fading, and feelings don't keep up.
I think this is probably influenced by the limitations of physical strength and concentration that occur with age, and the rapidly changing social situation.

I have also been working while experiencing many things, but “continuing” itself is also difficult. In order to have important aspirations and continue to be active, adjust the rhythm of life around you and try to take care of yourself. With that balance, motivation is maintained.

Thankfully, I've also been blessed with friends who make my dreams come true and lend support to what I want to do, and I've made it this far.
Even if I don't take the lead, raising my juniors and taking them over is one of my joys now. By connecting to the next generation, we aim to successfully let go.

I also want to look forward to searching for a new purpose in life for my current age and future.

There are also a lot of friends we can share with. Family members who are always close to you may not always be the ones who understand everything. Expanding the number of external communities will also broaden your horizons and make it easier to accept values.

How to get a sense of fulfillment in life

Shakyamuni said, “The heart is hard to grasp, it rustles lightly, and it peels as it desires. It is good to hold back that heart. It says that it is not easy to control the mind, saying, “If you calm your mind, it brings comfort,” but what you say “I can't find a place to calm my mind” probably means that you can't get a sense of fulfillment in life.
As you age and experience, the number of people you can talk to decreases and people you can sympathize with decreases, which is something everyone at your age takes for granted.
I don't know if it's appropriate as an analogy, but it's probably common for novels and songs I once loved to seem cliché now.
Let me say something a little harsh from here on out.
You're already in the second half of your life.
The time to pursue only what you like and live for yourself is probably over.
There is no real happiness or fun other than making someone happy and being useful to someone.
Looking at your profile, it means that you changed jobs to a nurse because you felt unsatisfactory that your labor was not being returned to the world at the company you got a job at after high school graduation, so it seems that you have already fully understood what I want to tell you.
I don't think at all that you really feel empty about the fact that you have worked for so many patients and taught juniors as a nurse until now.
If you're still working, nothing else matters.
Hobbies, learning, etc. (if I were aware of misunderstandings) are just games.
If you've lost the passion you once had, this is just plain advice, but try to remember your original intentions.
It was a disorganized answer, but I hope it will be helpful to you as you move forward in your future life.