Recently I read this quote from one of my favorite authors, John O’Donohue, from his book Eternal Echoes. I invite you to read these words a couple of times and let them sink in. I want to share with you the eye-opening and perhaps gaming changing question that came from these words.
“There are no manuals for the construction of the individual you would like to become. You are the only one who can decide this and take up the lifetime of work that it demands. This is a wonderful privilege and such an exciting adventure. To grow into the person that your deepest longing desires is a great blessing. If you can find a creative harmony between your soul and your life, you will have found something infinitely precious. You may not be able to do much about the great problems of the world or to change the situation you are in, but if you can awaken the eternal beauty and light of your soul, you will bring light wherever you go. The gift of life is given to us for ourselves and also to bring peace, courage, and compassion to others.”
If you didn’t read it again, go back and do it. We’ll wait…
Now that you have taken that in…consider this: what if all you were called to do in this life was “to awaken the eternal beauty and light of your soul?” Let that soak in for a minute. What if… your soul mission in this life was to awaken your eternal beauty and life of your soul?” What if that was it?
What if it was not about doing the best job or having the smallest waist size, making money, or getting in a certain school? (All things that easily can pile on stress) Or if it wasn’t about the next best gadget, the A’s on our child’s report card or the next job promotion? What if it was not about having a weedless garden or a dust-free house? Or if it was not about believing the “right” thing, doing the “right” thing or voting the “right” way?
What if instead…all these things (jobs, family, finances/or the lack, politics and weeds) were all the life elements actually meant assist us in our mission of awakening the eternal beauty and light of our soul?
What if the headaches that can seem to come from family, politics, work, instead were all opportunities to see where we hide our beauty and light? What it all the things that stress us actually help us find the cracks in our armor?
“The wound is the place where the Light enters. ” ~ Rumi
This week, as you run into situations that anger, sadden or grieve, stop. Stop to consider if this present moment is an invitation to awaken a part of your eternal beauty and light of your soul. And if so, how? Is there something to see? Hear? Experience? Where are there places you hide your beauty and light?
We need the beauty and light of your soul. Our world needs it. Why? Marianne Williamson gives us one reason:
“We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Awaken to the beauty and light within you,
Andrea
Andrea Tatley 