As physical beings, there are some obvious things that we know we cannot live without. Primarily they include things like, oxygen, water, food and sleep. Secondarily, they include things like clothes and shelter.
As spiritual beings, I truly do not think there is anything that we cannot live without. I think it would be nothing short of an oxymoron, to state that there is something that we as spiritual beings cannot live without. We are eternal – we are complete – we simply ARE. There is nothing lacking or needing in this state.
Today, I know that aside from my physical needs, there really is nothing without which I could really not live. However, there are many things we feel very passionate about, and feel as if “we couldn’t live without them“.
I am writing about these topics to you today, as I have been reading a lot lately from Tess Marshall who runs her own site called The Bold Life. Tess is a wealth of information and as her “disclaimer” states – her site will “challenge you to be more, give more, live fearlessly, take more chances and show up in the world unstoppable, daring and bold.”
Just recently I read from her a post called “11 Things I Can’t Live Without“. This post resonated with me so much for many reasons, mainly because it made me think – what would I write that I cannot live without? I wanted to sit down and write my own list. Well, as I read Tess’ list, I couldn’t believe how closely it sounded to what I would write. However, as we are all unique beings and see life through our own filter, Tess encouraged me to write my own list anyway. So here it goes – I was on such a roll, that I added 3 extra things to make it a list of 14:
1. Love
This is the essence of my being – of all of our beings. I cannot imagine life without love, as it actually is “us” – all that we are at the core of who we are. For me love encompasses so much, love of self, love of others, love of nature, love of life, love of the present moment and so much more!
2. My Soul Mate
I know that I am very blessed for not only having found, but being able to connect to a soul that I have spent many amazing lifetimes with. My soul mate – my life partner – my husband and I are so deeply connected that it is honestly really hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. There was a time where fear used to grip me at the thought of losing him (only to some disease or accident). However, I have learned enough about our souls and their journeys today, to know that I no longer have to fear any of that. Neither one of us is going anywhere until either one of us is ready and that is not for a very, very long time. However, having said all this, I really cannot imagine “living” without him. We are best friends. We are best work partners. We are really everything to each other. It is not some “unhealthy codependency” but rather a deep and intertwined love that is really hard to describe using “Earthly”, physical words.
3. Nature
I love all aspects of nature so much, that I know there are very few in this world today who can understand just how deeply I feel about Mother Earth. Aside from love, I feel that my very essence is somehow connected to the living consciousness of this planet. I cannot imagine life without all the beauty that nature provides. Every tree, every petal, every creepy, crawly, hairy, furry or feathery creature on this planet today is something I marvel at and wouldn’t want to live without. And hence I appreciate them all, so, so much.
4. Warm, Sunny Weather
This may seem small and meaningless to some, but it is actually quite important for me. I really could not live without warm weather and the presence of the sun. The place I currently live in – Ontario, is as far as I will go to putting up with cold weather. I am an outdoors kind of person and between that and my love for nature, having about 7 months of cold is not really ideal for me. So I look forward greatly to the summers, take some excursions down south in the winter to break it up a bit and plan for a near future in a warmer climate.
5. My Thirst for Knowledge & Wisdom
One of my most favorite things to do in life is to learn. I know that my spiritual being knows everything it needs and has a direct access to the database of all knowledge. However, part of being in the physical is the chance and opportunities to learn everything brand new and I love this! I know that as school kids many of us couldn’t wait to stop learning. Well, I was there too, but after leaving formal education I quickly discovered a pure passion for learning and today it continues to be amplified in every area. Learning leads to the acquisition of knowledge and what we do with that knowledge, in terms of how we choose to use it, leads to wisdom.
6. Passion
This is another aspect of life that today I feel like “I cannot live without it.” Passion – fueled by love, is what drives me today to be and do all that I am and do. We are all unique and diverse and when we ignite our own personal passions, we add to the collective whole in amazing ways. We give this world and life, the color, meaning and depth that make them so amazing. When passion comes from a higher state of being, and not the ego, it can perform nothing short of miracles.
7. Healthy Food
Now I will be the first to tell you that “healthy” is a word that today means many things, to many people. So what do I mean? What I mean by healthy is wholesome, natural, and unprocessed food straight from Mother Earth. My body has today learned to thrive so well on only pure nutrition (and plant-based too) that I really feel I could not live without it. No boxes, no cans, no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, no frozen, no fast – just as pure, as pure can get today.
8. Gratitude & Appreciation
Not a day goes by where I am not grateful or appreciative of or for something. Most days many things, and many times. Therefore I cannot imagine life without these two amazing aspects of it, and I definitely do not see how I could live without them.
9. My Positive Attitude
Like Tess, I really cannot see anything but the best in every situation. I truly believe that there is nothing negative that happens, that doesn’t actually have a positive aspect to it. Having this attitude has greatly alleviated any old feelings of fear or worry. It is also what I attribute today to living life without any direct feelings of stress.
10. Personal Accountability
Many people are afraid of being accountable to and for themselves and seem to like letting others be accountable for their being. However, having been on both sides, I have to say, life is so much better when we are accountable for it ourselves. Thus today, I cannot go back, imagine or actually live without personal accountability. It is just too empowering. My health, my success, my happiness, my peace and all aspects of my life I am accountable for. This has helped me greatly never take on the “victim” attitude or the attitude that life is somehow unfair. There is no one to blame but only learn from my personal choices.
11. Simplicity
Whether it is one’s home, closet, work environment or other – it can represent simplicity, complexity or even chaos. I have learned to greatly value the simplicity in all parts and areas of my life, that today I feel like I cannot live without it. Whether it is at the material level or the emotional level – I love the feelings that come with simplicity like clarity and balance, and that is why this aspect of life also makes my list as something I wouldn’t want to live without.
12. Freedom
This is something that has been taken away from so many people over the ages, and today I appreciate and am so grateful for mine. I know that at the core, even in some form of captivity, be it a work cubicle or a jail cell – we all still have our own freedom as to how we will choose to respond or react to a certain scenario. However, nothing beats being truly free – free to say whatever one wants to say – be whatever one wants to be – go wherever one wants to go – and – do whatever one wants to do. The more freedom I experience in my life, the more it makes me realize how much I would never want to live without it.
13. My Faith
What I have ultimately discovered up to this point in my life is that it is not just about having a positive attitude or having hope. Having faith goes a lot deeper than both and it can make a huge difference in the end as to the quality of our lives. My faith leads me in the beliefs I have about there being a higher order to things, to life, a presence of a higher power and so much more. It is there for the big things, and it is there for the little things. Some people have asked in the past, but where does this strong faith come from? Well, to tell you the truth I am not sure. I cannot recommend a supplement, a book or some other magical means to increase one’s faith. I think it comes from a deeper knowing within, and to access that I simply encourage people to connect more deeply with their inner being.
14. My Open Mind
In the end, I realize that many things in my life and how I got to be to where I am today would not have been possible, had I not kept an open mind. Thus, I had to include this as one of the things that I can’t live without. An open mind has allowed me to take in more love, learning and have more faith than I could perhaps ever had the chance to do, had I closed myself off to a particular set of beliefs, values or attitudes. This is also why today I also encourage others to stay open minded, no matter how foreign something may sound. We just never know what we may be missing out on in life, if we close ourselves off.
Conclusion
Many self-help “gurus”, books and other outlets often promote the idea of “writing things down” for a sense of healing, peace or clarity. Being a writer, I feel like I write enough, and have to tell you that I do not actually take many opportunities to write things down anymore, personally for myself. It hasn’t hindered my life in any way – but what I learn from exercises like this, is that it does help in various ways.
Having done this, I am sure there are a few other things that I could have thought of, but I feel that these are the areas that I feel most strongly about at this time.
Hence I encourage you to give some thoughts to what your own list would look like, perhaps even take some time to write one down and if you would like, feel free to share some of those points in the comment section below. And of course don’t forget to visit Tess and check out her list – the inspiration behind this all :)
About the author:Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is the founder and editor of EvolvingBeings.com – an online publication featuring various topics on spirituality and metaphysics. Evita teaches consciousness expansion and heart-centered living to help people attain deep meaning, peace and happiness in their life. She is also a nutritional science and holistic health expert for optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow her on Twitter.
21 Comments to “14 Things I Can’t Live Without”
Evita,
What I love about your list is your detail. It makes it so fun and draws me in even deeper as a reader. I can really relate to your 14 things as well and the simmilarities of no. 2 Soul Mate and no. 4 Sunny Weather are crazy.
I’m moving towards no. 7 Healthy Food and will be spending more time on your wellness site. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to eat healthier.
No. 11 Simplicity…I need more order in my office, I get stuck here again and again. I believe my writing and energy would change dramatically if I kept order. I wonder what is holding me back. Hmmmm I need to give this more thought.
No 13 Faith…I feel my faith in the past has been as strong as yours in th past. I once heard we never lose our faith we only misplace it. Another area you have convinced me to examine.
Thank you so much for being on this journey with me, your authenticity and enthusiasm shine through every world. Oh and thanks for the link love…you’re the best!
I love what you wrote about your husband. That’s what I aspire to… Thank you for giving it light and allowing my eyes, mind and heart to read it.
@ TESS – Thanks Tess, detail seems to follow me in a lot of my writing… Most times I love really letting others fully into my mind, other times I wonder if people want that much detail… So I really appreciate the feedback!
LOL about the #7 – our bodies really do communicate with us if we only listen. Sometimes we silence them for too long, and when they have to speak next they scream at us in ways we cannot ignore. I try to live my life to not get to that point ;)
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed my version so much and my pleasure about the link love – you were my inspiration after all :D
@ MEGAN – You are welcome Megan. You know before I met him, images were becoming more and more clear in my mind of him. People told me I was unrealistic… that there is no such thing as “perfect”, it does not exist. Boy am I glad I didn’t listen and settle along the way. Imagine what I would have missed.
That is why today I tell people who are seeking a life partner the same thing – whatever you do, don’t settle. There are so many amazing souls in this world that when we come together with them, miracles and fireworks happen. But if we are not patient enough, if we settle for something along the way, we decrease our potential for the life of our dreams significantly. So enjoy your journey and always believe!
Hi Evita — it’s both an inspiring list and picture — I think that’s you? Did you just run an ultramarathon or finish a skydive? Whatever you were doing, the exhilaration is clearly there. :)
I agree with Chris, a beautiful picture, can just see the ecstasy you feel being amongst Mother in all her beauty!
Writing things down, such a needed exercise to affirm, embrace and strengthen the different parts of us.
And faith, yes Evita it is an element just like electricity it is the belief in the unseen, absent from sensory knowledge…that inner knowing, mmm mmm good! Probably my very favorite, although there is nothing like looking into the eyes and seeing the soul of one’s beloveds… or the beauty of dawn and dusk, crashing waves, snow covered mountain ranges, a glorious sunny perfect day, the power of a raging storm, the beauty of a flower or vegetable garden…etc., etc., etc.
I hear what you say about Tess’ list and yours, mine is so similar. Perhaps those of us that get we are Spirits with a gloried body experience, love, and value much of the same! Thanks Evita, a wonderful post that enables us to be in gratitude ever more so because when we put pen to paper, our blessings, passion, and loves stand before us!
Hi Evita,
I love the list and could relate to all that you wrote. I, too, am married to my best friend. I always tease him as to why did it take 30 years until I met him. (I had just turned 30 when he came into my life.) Now seven years later, we are having more fun now than we did then. He is my family and words cannot express the gratitude for sharing my life with someone who loves me so unconditionally.
That said, I am also grateful to know what I know and to be on a spiritual journey. Health food is awesome too as is sunshine and as you can see, our lists are the same. :)
Freedom is the only thing i cannot live without. freedom to think any way i want, act any way i want or be anything i chose. Freedom is the greatest assets we all have. yet, it is such a wonderful assets it keeps most of us stagnant.
I like how your list limits physical things and puts more emphasis on what you can create. You can have an open mind in any situation.
We are physical beings and we do need food, water, oxygen and that’s good. It keeps us intertwined to the things around us. We need to do a better job of taking care of this earth. I know I can’t survive without clean air, clean water and sunshine.
The nice thing about this list is that is focuses on “Who” rather than “What.” We have this in common, I think. Very nice post.
What, no iPod? No gazillion inch flat screen TV? No Hummer?
What’s wrong with you? ;-)
Great list – thanks for sharing.
I love that you included personal accountability. If we all took more responsibility for our own lives, health, choices, decisions, we would realize we have so much power to create what we really want.
Now, after reading you and Tess, perhaps it’s time to create a list on my blog!
Each of the 14 things you mention Evita are portals by themselves towards reunification. Truly, so many ways to regain a sense of ease into one’s life. Thanks for sharing your mind and your heart for all to see how easy it can be to become transparent and as light as a feather.
I am so inspired and uplifted by your list! Thank you for sharing this… You are an amazing teacher!
@ CHRIS – Thanks Chris, and yes it is me. But no, no marathons for me ;) I was hiking up a big mountain and just stopped to enjoy the moment in that photo. I thought it was appropriate in many ways for this post…
@ SUZEN – Thanks Suzen and yes, that is something neat to think about when you say “Perhaps those of us that get we are Spirits with a gloried body experience, love, and value much of the same!”
I couldn’t agree with you more. At some point life just begins to take on a whole new meaning…
@ NADIA – Wow, I loved what you said about your husband – thank you for sharing. I truly believe that the more we talk about “good relationships” the more people out there can hear a different tune, not just about poor relationships and divorce rates. That is all so beautiful what you said. And you know what, I had to wait till I was 26 to meet my husband – and it is all good. Sure I wish he was there since I was 20, but I know we both had to go through a few personal journeys before we reunited.
@ JONATHAN – Thanks Jonathan for adding that in. You know freedom is “gold” – I agree with all that you said. Because some may look at it and see that indeed, without freedom we may not be able to have any of the other things.
@ KARL – Thanks Karl, and you know what that is what I loved most about Tess’ list too. Right away it inspired within me a deeper sense of being and it felt really great!
@ GREG – Thanks for adding in your thoughts Greg and how wonderful to hear that. Yes, these days for me I may still enjoy the odd material item, but I know that is not what life is about. And the best part is not feeling attached to any material items, they are after all just fleeting bunches of matter.
@ MARKO – LOL…, no. None of those things satisfy me on a deeper level. In fact, as I mentioned to Greg above, as much as I still appreciate them and may enjoy them, they do not make who I am or bring me the happiness that my soul craves for today. They just are, and just as easily they don’t have to be…
@ STACEY – Thanks Stacey, yeah I am big on personal accountability these days. When I “awoke” a few years ago and realized that I was in charge of me, it was a very transformational moment. I think a lot of people feel as little as they do, or powerless because they constantly live with the belief that someone else is in charge of their destiny. But so much more empowerment and intentional living can come if we realize that “someone” is us.
@ BERN – Thanks for pointing that out Bernie, I like the idea of reunification and really resonate with it. I know a lot of human suffering comes from nothing more than separation.
And yeah, it is becoming more and more fun being transparent…
@ HANLIE – Thank you so much Hanlie – that means a lot and I always greatly value and appreciate your feedback!
That’s a lot of things you can’t live without Evita. I think we share about half of them. Definitely don’t share the “my soul mate thing” though :)
There is an associated risk: the more things we as people can’t live without, the less freedom we have. It’s kind of a zen thing. Funny, cause “Freedom” is also on your list.
Wonderful list…I especially like the last one. Ironically, happiness starts with an mind which is completely open and innocent…
Beautiful list…I resonated with all of it. I suppose Love and Freedom would be at the top of my list as I think they encompass all the rest. I am a huge proponent of self-discipline too…that could possibly fall into your “personal accountability” column.
Thanks Evita for all these “gentle reminders!”…;)
Kathy
@ IDEAS WITH A KICK – Hi and thank you for stopping by to read my list. And of course as I mentioned the list could even be longer, but ultimately I know these are all things that I feel really “passionate” about not ones that I physically actually could not live without.
So I truly agree, we cannot or should not bind ourselves to too many things as each one limits more and more of who we can be.
@ KAUSHIK – Thanks Kaushik! They are not in any particular order, although the first ones obviously came to me first…
But I wanted to close off with the “open mind” one for as I said, almost none of the other ones would have been possible without this aspect.
@ KATHY – Thank you so much Kathy – I really appreciate that you took the time out to read it.
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Great list. It resonates with me on most points. Thanks for sharing your passions and for the inspiration.
Hi Qin,
My pleasure and thank you for stopping by and sharing your feedback.