I'm not a religious man. I do, however, hold to the theory that the universe is a living system, and we, by extension, are a reflection, or possibly the evolution of the universal consciousness.
I picked up and read The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz again this week. It's not a long read, but it is very relevant to this post.
Here's what the book is about.
The Four Agreements is a simple guide to living with more peace, freedom and authenticity. Its core message is built around four principles:
Be impeccable with your word. Speak honestly and use your words to build, not harm. Avoid gossip and say what you truly mean.
Don't take anything personally. Other people's actions and opinions usually reflect their own beliefs and experiences, not your worth.
Don't make assumptions. Instead of guessing what others think or mean, ask questions and communicate clearly.
Always do your best. Your best will vary from day to day. If you consistently give your genuine best, you'll avoid regret and unnecessary self-judgement.
The overall idea is that by practising these four agreements every day, we can reduce unnecessary suffering, improve our relationships, and live with greater clarity, kindness and personal freedom.
Lately, I have been talking to the universe. I have been asking something, a higher power, to help me day to day. I don't want to call it God. It isn't that to me. Ruiz mentions God in this book many times, but not in the traditional sense.
Ruiz’s God is not chiefly an old man in the sky keeping score. God is life itself: the creative force in us, around us and between us. When we act with love, honesty and attention, we are not earning a connection to the universe. We are remembering that we were never separate from it. That is how I view the higher power, the thing I speak to that I call The Universe.
I still hold to the fact that this is my only shot at being human, this life of mine. I have begun to regret the time I have wasted on trivial things. I know that I am beyond the halfway mark. I have two objectives. Stop wasting time and try to be a better person going forward. It will take a huge amount of effort to turn this around. I know there are a lot of bad things happening in the world right now, and it's hard to keep all of that on the down low.
Karla Ruiz says, “Peace is not something the world gives us once everything is fixed, but something we practice while the world is still full of noise.” Therein lies the lesson. It isn't easy, but it is worthwhile.