Go deep. Be useful.
That’s the mantra of my life in the world. The sign over the shop door, you might say. So when I think about how to begin these explorations into what I call the spirit of the universe, I’m confronted by the question: What is the most important thing I’ve learned in this life that might be useful to another?
My answer is what has become the number one principle that guides my life. It is a principle I discovered through a lot of heartache. Wishing others would shape up so I could be happy. Hating myself for not being enough. Until one day some smarty-pants said to me: “What world are you creating where such misery is real?”
Can you believe it?
Immediately, my imagination threw a cream pie in his face, along with those two words that aren’t happy birthday. Unfortunately, that didn’t make me feel any better. I took a different tack. I breathed a little, and thought. Eventually––oh, I don’t know, maybe four or ten lifetimes later––common sense revealed itself.
So far as I can tell, the principle I’m about to share with you most determines the well-being of any person, or any family, community, nation, business or bowling team––and has done so pretty much since forever.
The principle is this:
How we define our world creates our world.
Except for young children and those whose mind is dramatically off kilter for one reason or another, we’re not a victim of anything except our own interpretation of our experience. No one has ever made us miserable, or happy.
If we wish, we can learn to view every moment, every event, even the most painful, from the largest, most life-affirming perspective we are able. To see things as opportunities to grow self-understanding, leading to ever-greater kindness and compassion––rather than see them as burdens.
And what it takes to see our experiences in this way is very simple, but challenging. It requires that we loosen our grip on a lot of our beliefs, preferences, habits, et cetera. As we do, we are able to embrace one of life’s greatest gifts: the gift of choice.
We are so powerful.
❦
Sharing my discoveries and welcoming yours is the purpose of this little playground. I hope you’ll add your voice when it feels right.
If you’d like to explore working together, click on Q&A, or visit my other website, CoolMindWarmHeart.com