Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” In addition to happiness, I can see that when my consciousness is in harmony, when all aspects of it are centered and focused on my deepest intentions and values, I also experience peace, serenity, joy, strength and the manifestation of my dreams. When I am whole and one in my consciousness, I experience my true state of wholeness and oneness.
I also notice quite clearly how this is easier said than done. I am whole, but I fragment myself in so many ways. I hold things on myself and reject those parts of myself I’m not so crazy about. I sometimes have trouble forgiving others, making them responsible for my feelings and moods, and therefore give them some of my focus and my power. I sometimes separate my spiritual life from the rest of my life. Often I think one thing, feel another, say a third and do a fourth!
Speaking of things being easier said than done, if I had a nickel for every time I said one thing and did another, Bill Gates would be asking me for loans. It’s like the old Italian proverb: “Between saying and doing, many of pair of shoes is worn out.” Not to mention all the times I’ve thought something and said another, thought something and didn’t do it (wow, that’s a big one. Have you ever noticed that the most effective way to NOT do something is to think about doing it?); all the combinations and permutations make my head spin. Which might be an improvement.
My mind is not only a world traveler but a time traveler. It can zip between here and there and between past and future at something approaching the speed of light. Sometimes I’ll be near the end of a wonderful hike or a delicious meal, and suddenly realize I haven’t really noticed or tasted a thing. My body was hiking or eating, but my mind was in some other place or time.
So, I’ve decided that the most important thing for me to do in order to fulfill my desire to have a more harmonious and unified consciousness is to practice holding my attention. Here’s what I’m going to do, and I invite you to join me. I’m going to do one thing at a time, and I’m going to give it my full attention. I’m OK with my mind doing its traveling thing, but I intend to have some say about where it goes. At the very least I’d like to know that it left! I’m going to practice holding my attention on what I’m doing, even if it’s mundane or what I have perceived as boring. I will no longer attempt to juggle eating with texting, thinking about what so and so said yesterday and filling out my to-do list. I am a uni-tasker!
There would be tremendous value in giving my full attention to my thoughts, feelings and words, too, but for now I’m going to focus on my actions, since I believe my actions are what contribute most to my growth and unfolding. Even when my thinking is stinking, if I’m paying attention, I can still choose to do what is most aligned with my core values. Right now I can even choose to start doing all those things I’ve thought myself out of over the years, all those things I know in my heart would make my life better and bring more light into this world.
While I’m paying attention, I’m confident I’ll have a better chance of choosing actions that help to create things that are good and beautiful and true. And through taking action, I’m also confident that more of what’s good and beautiful and true will filter back into my thoughts and feelings and even my words. All this from simply paying attention. It’s a small price to pay!
If that’s all we remember, that’s more than enough for now.
