Flavor of You
When we think about our suchness, in respect to all of our doings, there is a particular way in which we, as individuals manifest through our actions. The choices we make help craft us into the individual we present to be, not only to the world, but to ourselves as well. As each one of us are similar in the since that we are a part of the collective string of people and processes through the Force, we equally vary in the flavor in which we add to the world. What sort of flavor are you? I’m not asking how you taste, but rather, when you pour yourself into your actions, what is it like? When you do what you do, how much of you does the doing? And most importantly, are we content with the doings of that person?
Pick up a pencil, pen, or whatever else is around you at the moment. Do this slowly and think about that relationship that you are sharing with that object right now, at this moment. This is a small action, but nonetheless, it has the ability to impact the world around us. Feel yourself separate from the body that you have, and experience your suchness in that action. As a result of your suchness, that manifestation of your own uniqueness, you have lifted an object. Without you, and without it, it could not have been done just like you did it. Now, in feeling that relationship that you have shared in that doing, we can choose to pour as much of ourselves as we need into the actions that we take. Maybe we don’t flavor the “pencil-lifting” action as much as we do when we extend ourselves to a friend in need, but nonetheless, the same holds true. It is a relationship in where our being is extended outwardly.
I’m sure there has been a point in our lives, in which we’ve done something and have completely questioned our judgement moments later. We have that compulsory nature to react to the situation and let that auto-piolet me take the helm and potentially steer us away from our moral compass. If we think about it long enough, it’s a rather scary phenomenon, reaction is. Are we being ourselves when, after our doings, we formulate a sense of regret or guilt as a result of the action that we took? It doesn’t even have to take much to push us to the point in our lives in which reacting is a commonplace for how we cope with the stressors of the world. Sometimes it just happens, but in that cyclic state of relieving ourselves from the choice of our actions, we often forget that we have the power to make an influence within our own lives, even if it is small. We lose touch with the sense that we have some power to act with the intent to do so kindly and gently, bring about the positive change in our daily living. Whatever it may be, sometimes recognizing that hurt or loss can remind us that we can consciously choose to go beyond that reactionary philosophy of life and work towards recognizing that we can impact an improving state of being. But how?
There is this idea of The Most Authentic Person model that is a great tool to consider when reflecting on the moral alignment of our actions. When reflecting on the amount of “me-ness” that I give in my actions, I can also reflect to see if the choices involving my action align with my particular set of values. I can pour myself into whatever I am doing, but if I give one-hundred percent of myself to the action of throwing rubbish all over the city park, am I being the most sincere, most authentic version of myself, that I can be? Our values are purposeful in the sense that they are guiding beacons to make sense of the happenings in our world, but how do we rationalize action outside of those values? These values are the tools to help us reposition ourselves to a moral action which leads us to that sense of being the most authentic being that we can be towards ourselves. As we see, our actions can be a cycle of reflection that can lead us to make that conscious choice to be more proactive, and effective in the way, and how, we go about doing things. Align your actions in a way that are centered upon your individual, and community values of supporting others and doing the most good and recognize that your suchness breathes life into everything we do. Recognize the relationship you share with what you do and how it impacts every relationship around you. And know that it’s okay to make mistakes sometimes. We learn through our doings, and we are not always perfect.
As always, remember to be kind to yourself. Practice compassion and kindness. And May the Force be with you.