Seeing The Void
Your life feels empty. Dull. Without substance of any kind. You wrecked relationships. Blew money on impulses. Made decisions you thought would make you happy. Everything falls apart when you touch it. Now, when you look at your life, you see the void. The Hebrew phrase tohu wa-bohu translates to “without form and void,” in the King James Version of the Bible (Gen. 1:2). Before God breathed life into the universe, this primal darkness made up the only distinct matter. Ancient Greek myths give us the concept of chaos that existed alongside the ordered world of Earth. Don’t dismiss these mythic stories as archaic nonsense. They contain truths that can help you to reconstruct your life. They present a way forward. A path beyond wrecked relationships, blown money, and wasted time.
Harvesting Order
Whether from Hebrew, Greek, or other religious tradition, creation myths showcase a crucial strategy for life. Creation myths show the formation of boundaries. They distinguish things as separate. They identify “this” from “that.” Like the solid land from the watery darkness. Creation myths depict a deity (or deities) taking action. They do something. They put something between themselves and the abyss. This may not do away with the cosmic chaos entirely. But it does provide a framework for building, planting, harvesting, and thriving. Anything you are going to create in life requires establishing boundaries.
Find What You Value
Before you can set healthy boundaries around a specific area of your life, you have to find what you value. Boundaries are a means, not an end by themselves. They are a tool for protecting what you value. So, to know where to erect them, first you must figure out what you value. Ask yourself: What do I value? What’s most important in life to me right now? Some ideas might include your health, both physical and mental. You might have some relationships that need mending. With parents, children, siblings, or friends. You might have a career you’re trying to repair. Once you’ve determined some things you value, then you may take steps toward protecting those things.
Define The Line
Once you’ve decided what you value, draw a line around them in your mind. As large or small as you like. Make it dynamic, you may find that some of your values might be removed. On the other hand, you might think of a few values you left out. Now, ask yourself what in your life preserves and protects these values. Does going to a certain place honor your v