We go through our day like this as well, managing as best we can, dealing with stress and being overwhelmed—moving through the physical world, forgetting to be mindful.
For the most part, everything is normal. We’re managing. On good days, things go pretty well. On bad days, frustration and stress get to us.
But what if we could shift everything in a magical way? What would happen if we changed the way we saw every single thing around us, including other people, including ourselves, including every little thing we see?
Try this: View every single thing you see as sacred.
See what happens.
Now, I’ll admit that “sacred” is a loaded word for many people who are not religious. It literally means “connected with God or the gods.” So if you’re not religious, it might seem a bit dumb. But even if you don’t believe in God, you can still find value in the idea that things might be sacred. Hear me out.
“Sacred” is simply elevating something to the level of the divine. That might be God, if you believe in God, but it could be the divinity in the universe, the miracle of existence and every moment. Consider how crazy it is that we exist, and think of how wonderful and miraculous this universe is. I would argue that it’s divine, no matter what you believe in.
Look outside: The trees and flowers and birds you can see are filled with divinity. They are absolutely sacred. So is the wind, the stars, the sunlight falling upon the faces of strangers, the ability to see colors, and the ability to have a conversation and connection with a fellow human being.
- If you start to see something as sacred, it no longer becomes “ho-hum” or something you take for granted. You fully appreciate the beauty of that sacred object or being.
- If you see another person as sacred, then you treat them with respect and even love. You look deep into the loveliness of their soul and broken heart, and you are grateful for your connection to them.
- If you see your possessions as sacred, you don’t toss them in the trash or put them in any old place—you put them away with care.
- If you see your work as sacred, you no longer feel it’s a burden. Instead, it’s a gift. You do it out of devotion, with love, instead of just trying to get through it.
- If you see yourself as sacred, all of a sudden you start to see the goodness within yourself. You treat yourself better, putting healthy food inside of yourself instead of junk.
- If you see the world around you as sacred, you move through it with awe and with a sense of wanting to applaud the universe for its magical creation. With a sense of purpose, you are the audience of this miracle and want to fully appreciate it.
That is true magic, and it is always available.
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