The Bliss Mistress Guide: To Live Significantly

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a college friend named Gina Foster. She made a comment about endeavoring to “live significantly”. I loved that intention and wrote it down and have it on the bulletin board in my office at the psychiatric hospital where I am employed as a social worker. Occasionally patients will notice it and I use that as an opportunity to remind them that they, and every other being on the planet, matters. The truth as I know it, is that each of us came here with a purpose and it is our creative challenge in each lifetime is to determine what that is. Some of us knew instantly what it was and for others, it takes much longer to uncover-recover-discover our passion. I always knew that mine lay in the creative writing realm. For me, books were treasures-toys-candy all in one and in elementary school, I began writing stories. In college, I started journaling and I have some from my 20’s; looking at them in amazement that I still face some of the same issues, as a woman old enough to be the mother of that younger version of myself. Blessedly, I have moved past some of those worn out, dysfunctional beliefs.

I recall something that The Dalai Lama expressed when I interviewed him in 2008 (the interview ran in Wisdom Magazine in September of that year. http://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/668/ ) I had asked him about the legacy he wanted to leave. “No, no, no. Many years ago, a New York Times journalist asked me that question. I told her, as a Buddhist practitioner, not allowed. If I take serious my legacy, that means self-centered. So, I answer that and then again that lady asked a second time and I answered same way and then a third time and then I lost my temper. If you ask, I may lose my temper. (Laughter followed.) Your motivation should be sincere and your life should be of benefit to some people. That is the main thing. Don’t care after my death.” For me, a legacy isn’t about ego gratification or how I will be remembered. It is about doing good for its own sake, about practicing tikkun olam; which means ‘the repair of the world,’ in Hebrew. It is about being an example of loving kindness, of being the first one to reach out. It calls on us each day to do more than merely exist. We can take up space or we can make a difference.

I have also observed that people who have a purpose and live from that place, are less likely to be depressed or addicted. I have seen ‘unreasonable’ happiness trump fear and dysfunction.

A line from one of my favorite Tracy Chapman songs called At This Point In My Life, is “to live as if only love matters.” I know that love really is what matters. .” What if we did just that? How would the world be? I raise a glass in toast to those who know how to live full out in that rich, juicy way

Edie Weinstein is a miracle manna-fester, colorfully creative soul at play in the world. She is freelance journalist, speaker, interfaith minister, social worker and author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary. www.liveinjoy.org