Aura
Aura

Early in the week several people said something to me that got me to thinking about how we project our feelings, thoughts, and intended action. I was told I had an “aura” of sadness. Well, with all that’s happened weekly, I can say it’s hard to spring back to a prior personality. It takes a while.

So, I got to thinking about our aura. What does it project about us? How do others perceive what we are dealing with based on how we spread ourselves into the public eye.

First, we must understand the word.

It comes out of the Greek and essentially means “breath of air”, so that tells me that when we use it today, it’s that feeling and sound of air moving. It’s tangible, although you cannot see it. You can even hear it or feel it in passing. When you think about it like this, then all the dictionaries in the world must simply agree with these words:

  • a distinctive and pervasive quality or character; air; atmosphere: an aura of respectability; an aura of friendliness.
  • a subtly pervasive quality or atmosphere seen as emanating from a person, place, or thing.

This means everything has an aura about itself that projects outward like a breath of air. Understand? The atmosphere of a place, your home, or your job. The air about a person as they move through life and the ability to project what they are experiencing. The ambiance felt that you either enjoy, despise or simply tolerate!

Is It Only An Aura?

Could it be we have an aura and are not even aware of it? Sure. It’s simply the way life is. When we recognize our feelings then we become aware of how others must sense our existence. I know my writing, speaking, and even whether I want to be around others is an expression of my feelings. Call it my aura if you must, but I feel it’s more powerful a feeling than a simple word.

These days my entire life seems to be on public display. I must project myself into life so that I can accomplish tasks, but it’s hard to feel like I’m wholly here, or there. It’s almost like something is missing. It’s not just what’s happened recently, but there is turmoil at the core of my being. Stacked up work, people being people, changes to my “work” place, things acting up, decisions atop decisions, missed opportunities, and any other number of things.

So. It’s not just an aura of sadness, as one person said, it’s this overwhelming load of getting through the challenges and standing tall on the other side! Especially when all you want to do is wander down lonely roads and sightsee the world around you.

I disagree that you can label this to my satisfaction. It’s not depression. Frustration. Overworked. Tired. Knee hurting. Sleep-deprived. Or anything else I’ve been dealing with. Essentially, it’s the combined effect of everything.

It’s My Life

Simply put, it’s my life. Today. Tomorrow? It’ll change. Something added or removed. Something handled, or even loaded up higher than I can imagine!

Do not discount the way I’m sharing. There is something to be said for honesty and forthrightness. But when I reach the flip side of this current status, then, will you recognize that I’m still me? Only, my aura will make you happier!

Each of us has a life to live, and when we struggle with the load then we must take ownership of how to come out of the moment.

Handling Life’s Challenges?

I think understanding where we are is necessary to our success. Recognizing the load we are carrying, and how best to distribute the weight so we will not be overwhelmed is required. Ordering our life to meet the demands is necessary, and this could easily include turning down opportunities that we might have once enjoyed accepting.

On top of this, I must understand what “me” is doing to “you”. I’ve said it a lot lately, but this is really important.

We think, feel, and believe based on who we are, moment by moment. Everything is a passage or process from here….to there. Since we are all on different playing fields of life, let's give each other space to process from where we… Share on X

This includes allowing each of us to face challenges in our own unique way. There will be times I’ll ask for help, but until I do, the best thing you can do is to simply make yourself available. Do not try to change me, that’s my job to change myself. This even comes to trying to “talk it out” – that’s my job to ask for this input, and until I do, you are not helping yourself or me by chatting about it.

So. Help me by recognizing you can’t help me. I must be in charge, and I must be the one to reach the conclusion that when my life says I’m ready for help, you may be the one I turn to. Until then? Just be my friend.

By Michael Gurley

Making Sense of Life, One Thought at a Time!