I don't know Who --- or what --- put the question. I don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone --- or Something --- and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that therefore, my life, in self-surrrender, had a goal.
Dag Hammarskjold
Secretary General of the United Nations
Within each of us, there is a small soft voice speaking to us. It is underneath all of the self-criticism being spewed by our ego, under the analytical brainstorming of our mind, and under our lonely hearts. The small voice patiently waits for each of us to be still long enough to listen.
Eckhart Tolle tells us to lean into a tree to discover stillness. With our fast paced society, we have forgotten how to be still. Many of us experience stillness only when we fall exhausted into a restless sleep.
The still small voice that awaits our attention is sometimes called God or Buddha or Allah or Divine Mother or Universal Love. The title is unimportant, but the substance is vital to our purpose and unfolding. Meaningful existence can be created through a deep connection when we at last surrender to the wisdom within.
Listening takes time and patience, but the whispers can be heard while reading, or walking or listening to music. Stilling the mind is important, but we all do not have to sit and meditate or contemplate in order to discover the spiritual connection.
Hearing the whispers of wisdom is important, but things do not stop there. We learn to trust and have faith, we begin to surrender to greater intentions than self-pleasing goals. Surrendering is difficult as it prompts change that we are not always prepared to make.
How will this change my approach to life? Will this impact the lives of my loved ones? Am I to believe this is really true? Can I have more guidance and direction? When will like minded beings join me in this effort? All of these questions and more pave the path to a meaningful existence. We do not need to live in poverty or give up rewards we have earned, but we may be led to use them differently to impact those who surround us. We may be called to extend more kindness or compassion or to see life with an open heart rather than through tinted lenses.
When we have established a heart connection with the wisdom within, we lead fuller and more productive lives. Our existence takes on deeper meaning during the stillness we create. We no longer feel alone and our purpose in life becomes inspiring, not only to ourselves, but to others as well.
***Inspired by Mark Nepo's newly released book, SEVEN THOUSAND WAYS TO LISTEN.
