Healing HOME

Most of us ultimately wish to discover and live some deep, meaningful purpose for being alive. Sometimes this is driven by a strong sense of self or being passionate about goals and vision, and sometimes it is driven by simply knowing who we are: consciousness having a human experience, born in a certain place and at a certain time. We are “the ground crew” on this planet, here with these amazing hearts, minds and bodies. We are exactly where we are needed. We are here to love and to give our best in each moment (through which we connect with the inherent leader, healer, teacher or helper). Furthermore, we experience the luxury of analyzing and learning what we value most in life, and sowing these values into the fertile fields of Earth and humanity.

Our personal values (often realized through life lessons) can become our purpose in any given chapter of life, or throughout life. There is a logical sequence to applying our values, talents and skills in a way that is orderly and harmonious. We begin with the central unit (the self) and progress outward in tandem with a ripple effect that can reach far and wide, amplifying our individual efforts from the singular to the collective. Let us explore this progression.

SELF, HOME, NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY, INTERNET

First in the process of sowing seeds of purpose and nurturing them into full flower is to acknowledge these seeds as they manifest in the forms of inspiration, intuition, the heart’s wisdom, synchronicity, life lessons (etc.). They impel us toward action in a positive direction – one that suits our innate penchants and either meets or upgrades our level of personal development. We then begin to dream our dream into a workable vision, one ripple at a time (again, beginning with the central unit).

Self. We naturally “walk the talk,” having aligned the self with a certain value that is rooted in the heart. Consider beauty, for example. We who greatly value beauty and wish to contribute to the aesthetics of the world will naturally acknowledge our inherent beauty and develop our self-expression into what we perceive as beautiful. This is the first step beyond the realm of ideas: becoming that which we are compelled to share with the world.

Home. Being personally equipped, the next step centers around responsibility and assuring that the conscience is clear by beautifying the home (one’s most intimate physical environment) before expanding outward. There is an old adage: “Take care of your own backyard before you go out and save the world.” Why is it important that we begin with our own backyard?

• Priority. Beginning with the obvious, it would be nearly impossible to effectively contribute to larger causes, like beautifying our community, if we neglect that which is closest to us.
  
• Authenticity. It gives us cause for self-reflection, self-development, and assures that we are equipped with experience, by which we become an authentic expression of self.
  
• Community impact. A home’s beauty contributes positively to its surroundings, thus inspiring others to beautify their personal world as well, further developing the ripple effect of our vision.
  

Neighbors. Having tended to our own personal space, we then develop more expansively into active doing, spreading beauty beyond spaces of immediate responsibility by branching out to the neighbors and the street on which we live. Beauty taking many forms, we offer transplants from our garden, make and share loaves of bread, and generate supportive social interactions. I once gave a neighbor two plum trees. He planted one at the very edge of his property so we could both enjoy its fruits. We have now become an active visible force to further inspire others toward the joy of perceiving and expressing beauty.

Community. Ultimately, when we are driven by passion toward a yet vaster aesthetic vision, we take it to town meetings and propose community gardens, clean-up days, etc. This is a seed of co-creation, the synergy of multiple minds capable of refining an idea. Sometimes we just quietly take matters into our own hands, like my son and I do when we walk along Main Street picking up trash. This is to say, sometimes co-creation is necessary and sometimes the power of one is sufficient, yet the power of sharing our ideas with others is not to be underestimated.

Internet. At this point, or interchangeably with aforementioned outward developments, is use of the internet, like kindling many torches at once to realize co-creative dreams potentially on a global scale. Words truly are magical as we transmit thoughts mind-to-mind and open hearts via quantum entanglement or the “real internet” of true connection, the spiritual web that connects everything in existence.

Co-creation is a powerful way to apply our purpose from the individual to the collective level, and to make a positive impact in the world, from value-seeds of vision to flowers of fulfillment at each successive ripple. Here are some steps to follow in this process:

• Acknowledge your purpose and values and align them with your actions.
  
• Live your purpose with a clear conscience and the heart’s green light.
  
• Inspire your neighbors and community.
  
• Utilize the internet for exchanging ideas, feedback, and successes.

This is a natural and harmonious way to fulfill our purpose in life, to experience the brightest potentials of communication and action, and know that we have contributed to human evolution during our brief stay on this beautiful planet.