Friday, July 10, 2009
This Crisis
“When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.…And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth…” -Kahil Gibran, The Prophet
Over the past several months, I have been fumbling through my second of what I am sure will be multiple life crises. I have been grappling with the same questions that many of us ponder: “What should I be doing with my life and my career? Am I making a difference? Am I moving passionately through the world? What do I have yet to accomplish? What’s not done yet?” It’s no surprise that this crisis culminated on the passing of my eleventh anniversary at the non-profit organization where I proudly work.
So I have been doing the groundwork to answer these questions. Contemplating, talking with friends and family, researching options and considering a master’s program. I even met with an academic advisor this week to discuss different programs, the time and financial commitment and the marketability of different fields. After meeting with this advisor, I walked out of her office deflated and drained. I had a physical reaction to the idea of going back into a classroom for the next two years and I adore learning! It was quite telling.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit Lake Chautauqua and the Chautauqua Institute in western New York. While on this visit, we attended the all-denominational service in the beautiful open-air amphitheater. The service was conducted by a Christian pastor, a Presbyterian pastor and a Jewish rabbi and no, this is not the start of a joke. Each shared in the delivery of the service and the whole experience was quite moving. But what struck me most was the commentary from the Presbyterian. He was quite eloquent, extremely intelligent and his message was well-supported. Beyond all of his impressive presentation skills, there was one comment that made all the difference to me. He said: “There are those who believe and those who know.” That was it. Something was stirred inside of me and it was exactly what I needed to hear.
So, how do we know? Deepak Chopra says that “every human being has a unique talent [and] when you are expressing that one unique talent, you lose track of time. The expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness.” And the single most important component to realizing your full potential is when you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity. This is the Law of Dharma, meaning purpose in life. And each of us is here to discover and know our own true Self.
What do you believe and what do you know? I have believed for a very long time that it is probably a smart idea for me to get my master’s degree. I have believed for a very long time that savvy business professionals change careers and companies frequently. I have also believed for a very long time that my worth would be measured by my career success. But what do I know? I know that I had a negative physical reaction to the idea of going back to school right now. I know that when I am working on behalf of the young people that our organization serves, I am fulfilled and encouraged by their pure potential. I know that when I teach or practice yoga that I lose my ego, my fears and all sense of time. These are things I know for certain. What do you know for certain? Really know without fear, uncertainty or doubt? Go with what you know. Listen to your heart and move forward in truth. It is not without effort but as Albert Einstein once said: “I want to know God’s thoughts…the rest are details.” So…do I believe that I have solved this crisis? I know I have.
“An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.” -Lao Tzu
Over the past several months, I have been fumbling through my second of what I am sure will be multiple life crises. I have been grappling with the same questions that many of us ponder: “What should I be doing with my life and my career? Am I making a difference? Am I moving passionately through the world? What do I have yet to accomplish? What’s not done yet?” It’s no surprise that this crisis culminated on the passing of my eleventh anniversary at the non-profit organization where I proudly work.
So I have been doing the groundwork to answer these questions. Contemplating, talking with friends and family, researching options and considering a master’s program. I even met with an academic advisor this week to discuss different programs, the time and financial commitment and the marketability of different fields. After meeting with this advisor, I walked out of her office deflated and drained. I had a physical reaction to the idea of going back into a classroom for the next two years and I adore learning! It was quite telling.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit Lake Chautauqua and the Chautauqua Institute in western New York. While on this visit, we attended the all-denominational service in the beautiful open-air amphitheater. The service was conducted by a Christian pastor, a Presbyterian pastor and a Jewish rabbi and no, this is not the start of a joke. Each shared in the delivery of the service and the whole experience was quite moving. But what struck me most was the commentary from the Presbyterian. He was quite eloquent, extremely intelligent and his message was well-supported. Beyond all of his impressive presentation skills, there was one comment that made all the difference to me. He said: “There are those who believe and those who know.” That was it. Something was stirred inside of me and it was exactly what I needed to hear.
So, how do we know? Deepak Chopra says that “every human being has a unique talent [and] when you are expressing that one unique talent, you lose track of time. The expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness.” And the single most important component to realizing your full potential is when you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity. This is the Law of Dharma, meaning purpose in life. And each of us is here to discover and know our own true Self.
What do you believe and what do you know? I have believed for a very long time that it is probably a smart idea for me to get my master’s degree. I have believed for a very long time that savvy business professionals change careers and companies frequently. I have also believed for a very long time that my worth would be measured by my career success. But what do I know? I know that I had a negative physical reaction to the idea of going back to school right now. I know that when I am working on behalf of the young people that our organization serves, I am fulfilled and encouraged by their pure potential. I know that when I teach or practice yoga that I lose my ego, my fears and all sense of time. These are things I know for certain. What do you know for certain? Really know without fear, uncertainty or doubt? Go with what you know. Listen to your heart and move forward in truth. It is not without effort but as Albert Einstein once said: “I want to know God’s thoughts…the rest are details.” So…do I believe that I have solved this crisis? I know I have.
“An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.” -Lao Tzu
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