We are always looking to do something with purpose,
Something meaningful.
But what does this mean,
Meaningful?
The dictionary says it means significant and useful.
In our society we are encouraged to fill our lives with purposeful activities.
We're brought upon it.
Our storybooks are filled with heroes and heroines,
Saving princesses,
Killing dragons,
Witches and the bad guys.
We are told about the numerous hours of training the athletes put in to get to the standard needed.
The entrepreneurs and the millionaires of our world share their secrets of their success.
It's work,
Work and harder work.
We are encouraged to learn as much as possible,
To work as hard as possible and to serve as much as possible.
Man,
I'm tired just saying that.
Don't get me wrong,
I think all these things are important.
The learning,
The working,
The trying hard,
The serving of others.
These can all bring meaning and purpose to our lives and they're relevant and significant.
But a life of doing can also bring fatigue,
A sense of deficiency and underachievement and often a feeling of emptiness.
In Sanskrit the word for meaningful is sattaka,
Which according to the Collins dictionary also means no nonsense or worthwhile.
I like that meaning best,
Worthwhile.
But maybe it's not the definition of a meaningful life that needs to change.
Maybe it's what we consider a meaningful life to be.
Richard Branson,
The billionaire,
Said that drive,
Determination,
Passion and hard work are all important things to have when starting a business.
But he also said that if you don't have time for the small things,
You won't have time for the big things.
Steve Jobs,
The Apple creator,
Said nothing comes easily.
Work,
Continuous work and hard work is the only way to accomplish results at last.
But he also said my favourite things in life don't cost any money.
It's really clear that the most precious resource we have in life is time.
Time,
The most precious thing we really have.
Time.
And how much of that precious resource do we waste?
Watching TV,
Social media,
Doing things we know are just absolutely meaningless.
Wasting our precious time.
Many would say that sitting around doing nothing would be purposeless,
Meaningless.
But I think that sitting,
Not doing anything other than being in this very moment.
Well,
I don't think there is anything more worthwhile than that.
You're resting your body and your mind.
You're allowing thoughts and memories to process.
You become more aware of what is important and trivial things,
Minor grievances,
Just seem to start to fall away.
I don't mean to sit still and to think.
I mean to stop trying.
To stop the effort.
To stop thinking so much.
To just sit and breathe.
I invite you to close your eyes.
Take some time now to tune into your breath.
You're not changing your breath.
You're just looking at it,
Seeing how you do it.
What do you notice about your breath?
What part of the body does your breath link to?
Your chest?
Your stomach?
Your back ribs?
Your side ribs?
Your shoulders?
See if you can notice even more distant attachments to the breath.
Can you notice the bridge from your breath to parts of the body even further away?
Very subtle,
Barely imperceptible movements of the body.
Can you detect the movement of the breath in the back of your neck?
In your face?
Can you notice the movement of the breath in your ears?
Do you discern any slight activity in your fingers?
What about your toes?
How far down the body or up the body does the breath travel?
Don't worry if you don't notice anything.
This is just about tuning into what is there for you,
For what you observe.
See if you can allow yourself to become absorbed in the music now.
Try not to judge or label anything,
As in the different instruments you may recognise,
Or comparing it to something you heard once somewhere else,
Or whether you have decided you like or dislike it.
Just see if you can really pay attention and mindfully listen to the sound of the music.
Can you see the movement of the breath in the back of your neck?
Can you see the movement of the breath in the back of your neck?
And now pay attention to the breath and the music.
So now you observe the breath,
Its links to the parts of the body,
And you allow the music to be absorbed rather than paying too much attention to it,
As if the sound is landing on your skin and then soaked into the body.
Can you breathe in the music?
And notice now how you feel.
What thoughts,
Emotions,
Physical sensations do you observe?
Very lightly and gently place your hands together,
Fingers apart so they are barely touching,
Just ever so slightly touching.
And now with your right hand ever so gently stroke in a downwards motion,
Down your left fingers,
Down your left palm,
Down to your wrist,
And then turn your fingers around and stroke very gently in an upwards motion,
Up your wrist,
Your palm,
And your fingers.
Do the same on the other side.
And now do a couple more times on each side.
And now let your hands rest gently wherever is comfortable,
And take a couple of deep energising breaths.
Do you feel relaxed,
Calm,
Still,
At peace?
The name of the song that's been playing today is called Soulful Serenity.
Does your soul feel serene?
If yes,
Then I think that this doing nothing is pretty worthwhile.
Give your awareness now to your feet on the ground,
Your bottom on the seat.
Become aware of the space to the left and to the right of you,
Behind and in front of you.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
You you you you you
