Until we move, we might not take a look at all the things we accumulate. Little trinkets, sample sizes of cosmetics, and even clothes tend to pile up over time. So do our attachments to these things. Can we let go of the things we think we need to experience something new?

The answer to this question tells you what is most important in your life. Oftentimes we might believe that “righteousness” or “justice” might be driving us. However, many of those times what drives us is our need to be right, our desire to get what we feel we deserve, or our unconscious addiction to sensory pleasure. Rather than act from impulse, which might be impure due to our temporal emotions, we can pause and ask ourselves, “What is driving me?”

I loved the movie, “Mulan.” Three powerful virtues—loyalty, bravery, and truth—are stamped into Mulan’s father’s sword. These are virtues we can all uphold. We must, however, ask ourselves, to whom or what are we loyal? Money? Power? God? How do we show bravery without hurting others? And most of all, are we being truthful? Can we be loyal and brave in regards to the truth? Can we make an effort to live in truth?

Just as several factors might contribute to your stress, you might need several factors to contribute to well-being. Yoga might not work, but perhaps yoga and eating healthy might. A job change or location change might alleviate stress, but meditation might also reduce the mental fluctuations. It’s important for us to explore our “nexus of mediating factors” that cause us to bubble over or simmer down.

I struggled many years with the idea that if you “just believe” in Christ, that you will be saved. This says little about the continual conversion, the inner transformation. We repent from our past transgressions, but we continually strive to transform ourselves from within so that we make wiser choices that bring about peace, love and compassion. This means letting go of our attachment to people, behaviors, and things that cause us to miss the mark. God can’t make that choice for us—we must use our free will to become more like the God we worship.

It’s anticipated that as the pandemic and its restrictions ease, people will search for meaning through spiritual practices. My guess is that “influencers” who ride on trends will try to exploit this for material gain. But God never goes out of style. Instead, we go out of step with God and wonder why we’re experiencing so much suffering.

It’s natural for us to direct our attention to our negative emotions and thoughts. However, we can’t be consumed by them. We also have to see the silver lining of each cloud. We take note of the cloud and its warning, but the silver lining reminds us of what’s behind the cloud. Some of us who are overly identified with our false self have become so attached to the clouds—the problem—that we don’t want a solution.

If you look at what occupies your day, ask yourself what benefits your body, mind, or soul. Is there something you’re consuming, such as negative media or junk food, that might bring harm to you or those around you? Sometimes what we believe to be innocent consumption might be actual addiction or attachment. Try letting a piece of something go to see how you react. You might find that what you consume might be consuming you.

We all lean towards the easy, but most things require effort. We then go to extremes of effort and ease. Quick fixes and three-day fasts might bring immediate results, but they don’t form habits that lead us to continual progress. Instead, our spiritual practices require moderation—the right amount of effort and ease—to sustain us throughout our lifetime.

Living alone doesn’t mean leaving society or our current surroundings. Instead, as The Buddha taught, living alone means living without the heavy baggage of our past and anxieties of our future. Solitude can’t occur when these ghosts accompany us. Instead, we experience stillness in the present moment, even in the company of others.