Experience suggests that a discussion about contributing to the betterment of society fails to tap the deepest springs of motivation if it excludes exploration of spiritual themes. The importance of “doing”, of arising to serve and to accompany fellow souls, must be harmonized with the notion of “being”, of increasing one’s understanding of the divine teachings and mirroring forth spiritual qualities in one’s life. (Universal House of Justice, to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 29 December 2015)
As a recovering workaholic, I’ve learned that I use “doing” (work, service, activities) as a drug to numb my feelings. When I’m not doing, I feel anxious, flooded with emotions from past trauma that I’d rather not feel or experience. When I’m not using the addiction to “doing”, I numb out with food, reading escape fiction, watching mindless television or playing phone games. None of this is pure hearted work-as-worship.
I’m learning to include the following in my life to help me “be”, so I can feel spiritually centrered, happy and healthy: prayer, meditation, fasting, studying the Baha’i Writings, tutoring study circles, journaling, spending time with other Baha’is, and working on my blog and books. When I take time to “be”, I fill up my bucket and am able to go back to arising to serve and accompany fellow souls, mirroring forth spiritual qualities in a healthy, more God-oriented way.
Knowing that by giving myself permission to just “be”, I am better able to arise to serve and accompany others, I can relax and I am grateful!
What jumped out for you as you read today’s meditation? I’d love it if you would share so we can all expand our knowledge of the Writings!
If you liked this meditation, you might also like my book Fear into Faith: Overcoming Anxiety
Susan, I appreciate your work and would like to know your insights into balancing the material and spiritual…’walking the spiritual path with practical feet’. I look around me and I see some who are managing both well, perhaps because they had a clear vision of what they wanted from the start, and kept focus on that vision. I have changed locations throughout my career, feeling like the ‘wayfarer’ and now being 62 am at a crossroads. I’m prayerfully taking the next steps to discover which path I’m being led to, but overall, I wonder if I’ve missed something about creating a vision and following that path with God’s assistance.
I’m the same age as you RC, and I too feel like I’m at a crossroads and asking myself that very question! In my saner moments, I think God doesn’t much care about our visions and paths. It seems to me the only thing that matters is to know and worship God and to acquire the virtues we’ll need in the next world. The path and visions are just the fluff – the stuff of life or the crucible within which we can achieve what’s really important. When I remember that I can let go of my need to “get it right” (which is really self-will run riot), I’m much more able to let God guide me.
oh yes it is true, this is very deep and mindfulness
Thanks Simin! I’m glad it struck a chord!