I tend to live in my head. As an enneagram 5, I gravitate toward thoughts, ideas, and reflection. I often don't really know how I feel. It takes effort for me to feel my feelings, rather than thinking about my feelings. I also minimize the signals from my body. If I'm tired, hungry, weepy, energetic--I often dismiss those messages.
I need to start listening. And watching. And being.
My mind is so consumed with thoughts and analysis that I am turned inward. I may be thinking about external things, but the work is internal. This swirl of problems, plans, and possibilities deafens me to the moment.
But I am getting better. I'm learning to take deep breaths and enjoy them. I'm noticing my far off thoughts that remove me from the moment. The weather last weekend was spectacular, especially for August. I enjoyed time outdoors, playing with the grandchildren, feeling grateful for the sun on my skin and the breeze in the trees.
When there's too much noise in my head, I miss out on the love around me. God is constantly speaking through his creation and his creatures. He's revealing his gentle, powerful love. If I'm too busy, too preoccupied, I miss it. When I miss God's love, I'm really missing out. I'm missing out on life. That's no way to live.