Have you ever thought about the sacredness of what you do on a daily basis?
My daughter has been applying at universities for cello performance. At one audition we had the chance to talk to some student musicians and ask them for advice as an incoming freshman. One student gave this advice: "you owe it to yourself to take your music seriously because everyone has something that is core to them, and for you, it's music - if you do a half effort job on this - your soul will feel it."
Do you have something that is core to you, something that when done half heartedly - your soul feels it? It can be anything - sports, music, family, education, spirituality, your job (lucky you!), etc. What moves your soul?
Turn What You Do Into Something Sacred
For many of us, we are creatures of habit - we move through a routine: work, family, perhaps some leisure time, sleep. The monotony of life often eclipses the sensation that we are each involved in something profound and sacred. Mindfulness invites us to bring more space and awareness to the sacred nature of how we move through our day. Mindfulness allows our soul to experience the sacredness of our day to day living, regardless of what that might look like.
Three Ideas for Helping Create a Sense of Sacredness in Life
Take yourself seriously:
Desire is a major drive wheel of our development. Desire isn't just blind ambition or inflated ego, but there is a real benefit to desire. Desire is essential to help build on that small spark of nobility that we all poses - that spark that makes this person geek out over spread sheets, while this person obsesses over baked goods. When taken seriously, those sparks turn to desire, and when fed, those desires turn into talents. You aren't asked to be the best, just to be uniquely you. Being you is a way to turn what you do into something sacred.
"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."
-Henry Van Dyke
Become internally referenced:
When we venture out with this small spark of goodness, it's normal for us to seek the approval and validation of those around us. Finding wise others who can offer good feedback while also nurturing your soul is important. Perhaps of more importance though, is the ability to hold onto your own mattering, your own internal compass in the face of the invalidation that you may receive.
Mindfully pursue your aspirations, paying attention to your soul and where/when it feels expansive and expressive vs when you soul feels restricted and small. This internal referencing helps us stay soft and receptive even when we may receive harsh feedback or experience a lack of support. This isn't the kind of defiance fueled self protection when we face invalidation, rather it's a softness that allows us to hear the invalidation, and hold it up against what our soul says is true and good. Having a solid internal compass is a way to turn what you do into something sacred.
Learn balanced humility:
Be humble for you are made of earth
Be noble for you are made of stars
-Serbian Proverb
It is a real challenge to balance this paradox between humility and nobility. The human soul, at it's essence is noble, but our own internal formations, thoughts, and imprints often invite a sense of defensiveness, proving, justification, withholding. Mindfulness allows us to observe these inclinations, without judgement, and then feel our way towards nobility that is balanced with humility. Living a life that is neither diminished, nor embellished is a way to live in sacred space.
When I was a young mother I was often caught in the mundane of life... make a bed, make a sandwich, change a diaper, read a picture book. I wish I could go back to those days and challenge myself to find the sacredness of those experiences - and I don't mean just because society or church community, or family and friends tell you that it's important work - no, I mean I wanted to feel it in my soul.
Before I could do that, I had to learn to take myself and my work (motherhood) seriously. I had to learn to be more internally referenced and less dependent on my spouses/others approval. I had to (and continue to have to) practice mindfully with the paradox of humility and nobility.
Whatever your desire is pushing you towards, perhaps assess where you are at in these three areas, (without self condemnation). What you want in life really matters and how you pursue it really matters.
Namaste friends,
May we all learn to be both humble and noble as we turn what we do into something sacred!
Juli Larsen
Certified Meditation Facilitator
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