Your Life Matters

Meditations for Deep Living Today,

Your Life Matters For life matters.

It's a simple statement,

One that may seem all too obvious for many.

For some,

However,

It sadly rings untrue.

For them,

Their lives don't seem to matter.

To others,

To the world,

Or worse,

To themselves.

For most of us,

The feeling that we make little difference in this life can visit from time to time as an unwelcome guest.

Perhaps when things have not gone well for us for too long,

When we've failed at some important venture,

Or perhaps when we've experienced a major change or loss that compels us to examine our lives more closely.

In a crowded world that often appears controlled by agencies beyond our influence,

It's far too easy for any of us,

At some point,

To feel like we make no difference.

That in the larger scheme of things,

Our lives really don't matter.

But let me assure you,

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Your life does matter,

And it matters in ways well beyond the worlds of politics and economics.

Life has lived in the small moments,

Through those little experiences that fill each day.

With a simple act of generosity or kindness,

You can make a difference in someone's life every day.

Over a lifetime,

That can accrue into a substantial influence of your world.

If you have someone in your life who cares for you,

Then maybe you've already made a profound difference in the world for them.

For them,

Amid the billions of people on the planet,

Perhaps your life matters the most.

But beyond the day-to-day ways that you do impact the people in your life,

And the world at large,

Your life matters in ways you may not yet appreciate.

There's an old teaching common to many cultures that tells us there are two realities,

That of the physical and that of spirit.

According to this teaching,

The only way the realm of spirit can experience the physical is through life.

In other words,

Life,

In its countless forms,

Is the very process of spirit encountering the physical world.

In that alone,

Your life matters.

Perhaps your life matters most profoundly from the fact that you're self-aware.

According to many ancient traditions,

And to some modern concepts,

The planet as a whole is an incredibly complex,

Self-regulating organism.

Like the cells in our own bodies,

Every living thing on the planet is part of the living entity we call Earth.

Over the last four and a half billion years,

This world has evolved into what it is today,

And continues to shift and evolve into what it will become tomorrow.

It has occurred to some that the role of the human mind,

Of your mind and its capacity for self-awareness,

Is that through it,

The Earth is becoming self-aware.

Ponder that for a moment.

Your unique experience of this world,

Of this life,

Is part of this amazing planetary organism becoming aware of itself.

In that alone,

Your life truly matters.

On an even grander scale,

There is a sentiment beautifully articulated some years ago by Ellen Watts,

The philosopher and teacher.

He spoke about the universe unfolding,

Evolving,

And that we are an integral part of that process.

The capacity of the human mind for self-awareness gives us a very special role in that evolution.

As Watts so beautifully articulated,

It is through your eyes that the universe can witness its grandeur.

It is through your ears that the universe can hear its melodies.

And it's through your mind that the universe is aware of itself.

You are the center,

The nexus,

Of a unique experience of the universe,

And that is no small thing.

Regardless of how grand or small,

On the human scale your life seems,

You are making a unique contribution to the evolution of the cosmos itself.

A contribution that can be as great as any human that lives,

Has lived,

Or will live.

Your life truly matters.

So as you go about your days,

Take time to be aware of your experiences,

Of the world around you,

The world within you,

For it is through that awareness,

Your awareness,

That the earth and the universe are conscious.

It's time to be present,

Here and now.

It's been said that when a human being sits to meditate,

It's as though the universe pauses to take notice.

So as you prepare for this meditation,

Take your seat with the dignity and nobility that befits the moment and the fact that you are sitting at the center of a unique experience of the universe,

And that through this simple act of meditation,

You are making an important contribution to the evolution of the cosmos,

To its self-awareness.

When you've assumed your seat and have made those little adjustments for your body's comfort,

Close your eyes.

Bring your awareness to the breath,

The natural rhythm that occurs on its own,

Without thought,

Without effort,

Day and night,

Throughout your life.

Take in a deep breath to the count of three,

And release it.

Take in a deep breath to the count of four,

And release.

And in breath to the count of five,

And release.

Now let go of any conscious control of your breathing,

And simply observe it in its natural rhythm for a few more breaths.

Direct your awareness to the subtle body sensations that your breathing creates.

And now,

Be aware of any sounds around you.

Be aware of your hands and any sensations you feel through them.

Be aware of the soles of your feet,

And likewise,

Any sensations that are salient.

Now be aware of your face and any tension you may feel there.

Now take a moment to be aware of your whole body.

It's taken the universe four and a half billion years to produce this body of yours,

A creation that enables you to experience this life.

Slowly,

Mindfully,

Scan your body and let yourself become aware of some of the countless sensations it produces every moment of every day.

And now,

Be aware of the very process of being aware.

Observing the very act of awareness is a thing so subtle it's easily overshadowed by the busyness of thought.

But beneath the chaos of never-ending thoughts and shifting attention,

Awareness,

The silent witness to your life,

Sits ever-present,

Always at peace.

This awareness holds together our experiences.

This awareness is the unfolding consciousness of the cosmos.

Take a few more moments in this state of awareness,

This silent observing.

When your mind wanders,

Simply be conscious of that and find ground again by focusing on the sensations in your body.

You are sitting at the center of your unique perception of the universe.

As you are aware in this moment,

The universe itself is aware of this place and time and space.

If you'd like to remain in this state of awareness and perception,

Feel free to pause this recording for as long as you like.

So as we prepare to end this brief meditation,

Remember that this practice of taking a seat at the center of your universe,

Taking that seat with the dignity and solemn intention that befits it,

Is something you can come back to whenever you wish.

As you go through the busyness of the days to come,

Just pausing for a moment,

Finding ground in your awareness wherever you might be,

Whatever you might be doing,

Is accruing awareness within yourself,

Within the planet,

Within the universe.

Your life truly matters.

Thank you for taking your time to meditate with me today.

May you be warm and safe,

And may you live in peace and happiness.