Things are such, that someone lifting a cup,
or watching the rain, petting a dog,
or singing, just singing -- could be doing as
much for this universe as anyone."--Rumi
You know that feeling when you're doing something and you feel completely present and content? It feels like there's nothing pulling you out of the moment, and you would rather not be doing anything other than exactly what you're doing. Maybe you're feeling that right now reading this blog post (hopefully!).
For me, when that happens, it feels like everything is perfectly aligned and functioning just right, and I am completely "at one with" the universe, which is in sync with what feels like the truth of my heart. Another way to describe it is that you are in total acceptance of "what is" with whatever you are doing in the moment.
So let's say for example you're "watching the rain" or "petting a dog," as Rumi describes in his poem "Things Are Such," and you feel good doing it because you are completely surrendered to the very thing you are engaged in. Could it be that in the mere act of "doing" whatever it may be, we are doing "as much for this universe as anyone," as Rumi describes?
We may not think that we are doing anything significant or important in terms of what we're contributing to the universe by our activities, but if we are truly present in whatever we are involved in, and are being mindful by being in the present with total awareness, it would seem that we are doing something positive not only for ourselves, but for the universe too, which can make a difference.
If we approach everything we do as an opportunity to expand our awareness and raise our consciousness by being as attentive as we can be, even something like "petting a dog" can turn into a deeper experience because you can connect to the animal with more sensitivity. When we are doing something mindfully, our senses are more heightened, causing our experiences to become that much more satisfying.
I really like the idea of doing even the simple things like "lifting a cup" mindfully, but I wonder if what can make even more of a difference for this universe are the things we can do for others with the same total awareness.
Here are some activities to share with others that can make the "doing" in your life more meaningful:
- Giving of yourself to someone with no expectations.
Whatever it is we do, whether it's by ourselves or with someone else, doing it mindfully makes it that much more worthwhile. We "could be doing as much for this universe as anyone" in everything we do, but probably even more when we are as present as we can be with total awareness.
For more by Ora Nadrich, click here.
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