With the world out there becoming apparently evermore unpredictable it becomes increasingly urgent to grow an invincible center within – a psychic rallying point around which to organise the inner troupes – those various aspects of self which when working in unison comprise a mighty force but when scattered and in disarray have you wasting precious energy a, achieving nothing. Last week I mentioned how the biggest block to being centered and effective as you go about your business was your fear of other people and how overcoming this by essentially not being afraid to be afraid was paramount if you wanted to truly optimise on your life's adventure. However the next stage in the developmental process, in order for your experience to have depth of meaning is to give of yourself in service to the greater good. This requires no saintliness, merely an appreciation that to get value and authenticity – a sense of purpose, you have to give it. Giving this means bringing the totality of yourself to bear on whatever you are doing, whomever you are doing it with – literally being fully present in your body by means of mindful breathing and relaxation of muscles and sinews and from that space within, being willing to generously give your encouragement to others you encounter as you wind your merry way. This could be eye to eye contact and a smile with the vendor as you pay for your newspaper. It could be taking the time to make a generous hand gesture for a driver who has just let you cross the road – anything that will acknowledge and respect the inner presence of the other and if, just in that instant, remind them of their own uniqueness. If your generosity is even more flowing than that it, it may be may actively going out of your way to help someone in need, to support a friend or even a stranger – to some way lessen the suffering intrinsic to the human condition wherever you find it – and you won't have to look far – it's ubiquitous. Living your life discreetly in service of the greater good , however and to what ever extent feels appropriate to you from moment to moment equates directly to your quality of life – not in terms of income and life style per se but in terms of the only quality that really means anything – the quality of self within.
