Day 222 of 365 - Making Your Mark, Another Way
Here is another perspective on yesterday's topic. Originally, I had thought to combine them, but it would have made too long a post.
Charles Eisenstein, a teacher, speaker and writer, who I also think of as a philosopher of cultural change, wrote a great article about understanding the power of our actions. In it, he addresses the notion that doing things on a small scale makes doing them on a big scale possible.
This is the principle of 'morphic resonance' which comes from biologist Rupert Sheldrake. It means that something happening in one place, induces it happening elsewhere. This reminds me of the 100th monkey story, where after a critical number is achieved, the rest of the species, in locations far away, achieve the skill.
Eisenstein challenges us to reconsider the idea of cause and effect regarding making our mark in the world. While we may tend to think that some service we provide or action that we do only has general meaning when it is publicly recognized, perhaps there are other mysterious ways that the effects of our actions arrive in the larger world. Yes, having a big news story or a viral social media post can have a big impact, but maybe the ones nobody hears about can too.
Eisenstein speaks to the notion of doing things for their own sake, responding to a practical need. The magic comes from the act of service and the synchronicities which may occur, flow from that. Our invisible acts have significance. The small acts do not preclude the bigger more acknowledged ones. Both have relevance. He wants to merely point out our tendency to separate them in our thinking, to value one over the other.
Anyone who has done any kind of care giving, immersed in responding to the multitudes of daily needs, does not doubt their powerful effect. The point is, to heed our calling, whatever that may be at a given time. Ultimately, at the end of our lives, what we will likely be most grateful for, is the choices we made to connect with, love and serve others, rather than any accolades we may have received.
Eisenstein's challenge to us is to make our choices for what we do, less from a calculating mind which assesses risk and payoff, and more from our hearts, which makes more sense for the benefit of humanity. If we can stretch our thinking to include the broader consciousness of humanity, it does not become so hard to believe that my acts of compassion, caring and service where I am now, may also make it easier for someone else to give or receive it somewhere else in the world.
This also, to me, brings to mind the power of prayer, which essentially is a form of energy transmission. There is a fundamental belief in it's power, even by the most non-spiritual, who in times of dire need will ask for it. The sense of magical power associated with prayer, is not just due to the notion that some God can answer it or create a miracle. It is also an unspoken awareness that there is a deep connection with the consciousness of humanity, that we are all part of that Great Spirit, which creates miracles together.
So, don't let worries about the importance of what you do, stop you from acting. It most certainly does have an impact, in ways you may never know, but can trust just the same.
Charles Eisenstein, a teacher, speaker and writer, who I also think of as a philosopher of cultural change, wrote a great article about understanding the power of our actions. In it, he addresses the notion that doing things on a small scale makes doing them on a big scale possible.
This is the principle of 'morphic resonance' which comes from biologist Rupert Sheldrake. It means that something happening in one place, induces it happening elsewhere. This reminds me of the 100th monkey story, where after a critical number is achieved, the rest of the species, in locations far away, achieve the skill.
Eisenstein challenges us to reconsider the idea of cause and effect regarding making our mark in the world. While we may tend to think that some service we provide or action that we do only has general meaning when it is publicly recognized, perhaps there are other mysterious ways that the effects of our actions arrive in the larger world. Yes, having a big news story or a viral social media post can have a big impact, but maybe the ones nobody hears about can too.
Eisenstein speaks to the notion of doing things for their own sake, responding to a practical need. The magic comes from the act of service and the synchronicities which may occur, flow from that. Our invisible acts have significance. The small acts do not preclude the bigger more acknowledged ones. Both have relevance. He wants to merely point out our tendency to separate them in our thinking, to value one over the other.
Anyone who has done any kind of care giving, immersed in responding to the multitudes of daily needs, does not doubt their powerful effect. The point is, to heed our calling, whatever that may be at a given time. Ultimately, at the end of our lives, what we will likely be most grateful for, is the choices we made to connect with, love and serve others, rather than any accolades we may have received.
Eisenstein's challenge to us is to make our choices for what we do, less from a calculating mind which assesses risk and payoff, and more from our hearts, which makes more sense for the benefit of humanity. If we can stretch our thinking to include the broader consciousness of humanity, it does not become so hard to believe that my acts of compassion, caring and service where I am now, may also make it easier for someone else to give or receive it somewhere else in the world.
This also, to me, brings to mind the power of prayer, which essentially is a form of energy transmission. There is a fundamental belief in it's power, even by the most non-spiritual, who in times of dire need will ask for it. The sense of magical power associated with prayer, is not just due to the notion that some God can answer it or create a miracle. It is also an unspoken awareness that there is a deep connection with the consciousness of humanity, that we are all part of that Great Spirit, which creates miracles together.
So, don't let worries about the importance of what you do, stop you from acting. It most certainly does have an impact, in ways you may never know, but can trust just the same.
Comments
Post a Comment