I read this phrase in a book somewhere and it really caught my attention.
Whole-hearted participation.
I started to contemplate what it meant and images came to mind of funny videos I had seen on social media,
Where young children had been really,
Really involved in what they were doing,
For example dancing on a stage or singing in their school nativity,
And they were just absolutely wholeheartedly involved in it.
They were fully doing it.
It really made me smile to watch those children and I'm pretty sure that we were probably all like that when we were very young,
Before our egos were created,
Before we developed self-consciousness and comparing and shame,
Before someone laughed at us or called us a name and something clicked within us and we were forever changed.
We were no longer free.
How sad.
I started to think whether I wholeheartedly participated in my activities,
In my relationships,
In my life,
And I realised I don't.
In fact,
If I dig deep,
I would honestly say that I probably only half-heartedly participate in most of those things.
Why?
Most of us have a logical knowledge that we don't know when our time is up,
So we should make the most of it.
So why don't we then?
I wonder if I knew how many years,
Months,
Days or hours I had left to live,
I would live any differently.
In Kerry Shook's book,
One Month to Live,
He describes how as a pastor he recognised that the people who were terminally ill and knew their time left was short,
Lived really well.
Their relationships were good,
They used their time well,
They didn't dwell on stuff.
They let stuff go and were happy.
They lived wholeheartedly as much as they physically could.
Would I live any differently if I knew I only had a month left to live?
Would I be more wholeheartedly living my life?
I think I would.
But how can we do this without pushing ourselves too far out of our comfort zones?
So we don't feel like we have to be totally extravagant and out there to participate fully.
Well,
We could make a start with our breath.
Try this with me.
Close your eyes if you wish,
Or soften your gaze if not.
And take a couple of breaths,
In your own time,
At your own pace.
And now take a couple more,
But this time,
Consciously,
Fully aware of each breath.
This breath.
This one right now.
What would it be like to wholeheartedly participate in it?
To fully be awake and aware in the whole of the journey in,
And the whole of the journey out?
To take a couple of breaths whilst wholeheartedly participating in them.
What would it be like to see this breath,
This one,
As the most attractive thing you have ever seen in your life?
How would it be to breathe that way?
To take a couple of breaths that way?
What would it be like to recognise the value of this very breath?
To know that this is the only one you are actually guaranteed?
What would it be like to breathe like that?
To take a couple of breaths like that?
Is it possible for you to see this breath as a gift?
A precious,
Sacred gift?
You are not entitled to it.
You haven't earned it.
It's a freely given gift.
Just for now.
How would it be to acknowledge that?
To breathe like that?
To take a couple of breaths like that?
What would it be like to fully be grateful for this breath?
To really,
Really enjoy it?
As if it was really going to be your very last one?
And what would it be like to see this breath as your very best friend?
One who has been with you in all of your dark times,
And all of your joys?
The one who has been faithfully with you from the beginning,
And will be with you till the very end?
Your faithful companion?
How would it be to take a couple of breaths,
Seeing them this way?
This faithful friend who we barely even notice?
What would it be like to now turn towards this friend?
To thank this friend?
To offer your full attention and presence to this constant companion?
And how would it be to take a couple of breaths this way?
What would it be like to not just see breath as air,
But as prana?
Our very life energy?
Inhaling this life force into the life force within our body?
Exhaling this life force back out into the life force which is all around us?
Inhaling life from life into life?
Exhaling life from life into life?
Inhaling prana from prana into prana?
Exhaling prana from prana into prana?
Can you wholeheartedly participate in this one precious breath?
Can you wholeheartedly participate and stay present with this breath?
And what about this one?
You may wish to stay with this for a little while longer,
And so I will leave you here for now.
Thank you.
