How much time do you spend in a day trying to make other people happy? Trying to please others? Putting your own needs and desires aside? Running around like a lunatic, doing what you think you should? Or what others think you should? Running the engine of your soul on vapors because you never put any gas in your tank? An excellent recipe for resentment and resulting rebellious (and often regrettable) behavior, methinks! Not what I came here for, thanks!
If you're like many people, you may spend the majority of your time doing this. And probably, you aren't so happy about it, and ironically, those around you probably aren't so happy either, rendering your heroic (but kinda uninspired) efforts nearly useless.
Why do we do this? Seems to me that we are groomed for it from very early on -- that 'selflessness' is our purportedly noble goal as human beings. Selflessness. Selflessness. That's a pretty creepy sounding word, especially when you look at the definition closely:
"the act of sacrificing ones own interest for the greater good"
GAH! How can that be a good thing, really? Yeah, I know, you can conjure up images of war heroes, social workers, saints and sages, giving their all for the benefit of others. But, wait ...
... I would dare to say that by and large, those people are not being "selfless". They are being self-full, or possibly even selfish, by definition. The extreme actions that they are taking, which are benefitting many others, are likely benefitting themselves the most! They are acting from their soul's passions! In those moments, whether they are giving up their life, or their time, or their money, it is because they are connecting to their Best Selves and putting it out into the world in the biggest, most incredible way possible. They are acting from their deepest hearts and taking those chances -- speaking out, starting a business, taking a risk, big or small, doing what their heart knows is the biggest thing they can do, that will make them glad they were born, whatever, comes of it all. And that inevitably benefits others. As I'm very fond of saying, it's PHYSICS!
Instead of selflessness, let's try talking about oneness instead. That sounds soooo much warmer and friendlier. And then instead of just talking about it, let's do it for just a minute or two here and there, eh? Hee hee. For more in the spirit of oneness, please listen to this fabulous song, Amazing, by clicking here. Thanks to Kim Ryan for telling me about it -- it's now one of my Happy Dance songs every day!
Springtime love & hugs to all --
MJ
p.s. For those of you who have attended my group, Adventures in Meditation -- we'll be on hiatus until August 9th, when I'll resume with a monthly guided meditation group, yippee!!
