The Magic of Self-Renewal

One of the most important qualities we hardly ever think and talk about is the ability of self-renewal. We talk a lot about resilience and its important for a life of achievement and positive impact. And resilience, of course, is the capacity to bounce back after a hardship or disappointment and keep going. It's like practical equanimity, or the equivalent of emotional shock absorbers. What I have in mind with the quality of self-renewal is a bit different.

Whenever you're in a long-term quest or a demanding job, and you've worked hard, day after day for weeks, months, or perhaps even years, and nothing spectacular has yet happened to reward your efforts, you can begin to lose heart, or at least to lose whatever initial enthusiasm or energy you may have had for the project. Of course, if you're experiencing a lot of praise or admiration or encouragement from others, that can serve to keep you going through those long dry stretches of labor. But suppose that's rare or non-existent as well. What's going to keep you afloat? What's going to keep the wind in your sails, or the spring in your step? It's the quality and activity of self-renewal that does this. And it may be one of the rarest traits of all. But it's possessed by people who accomplish great and difficult things, despite any disadvantages they have, or obstacles they continually face.

Psychologists have recently written about the importance of a quality they call grit - the sheer ability to keep on going. But self-renewal is perhaps deeper and higher. It's the ability to keep going with a heart inspired and eager for the work, whether that work is household cleaning, bricklaying, business building, seeing patients all day long, or writing a book.

If grit keeps you going, and resilience picks you up, self- renewal helps you stay energized. And it's ironically easiest when you're working for something greater than the self. It comes from reminding yourself of your vision and values, and remembering how much you care. For many, it's an offshoot of practicing the presence of God. It's a way of recharging your heart and reconnecting with your inspiration.

How good are you at self-renewal? How good are the people on your team, or the members of your family? It's something worth thinking about, and cultivating.

The ancient Greeks advised, "Know Yourself!" I'd like to add, "Renew Yourself!"

Half-Hearted Half-Lives

How intensely do you live? How fully embodied are you, throughout your day? Are you doing your thing All-In, or just semi-engaged?

Here's a challenging claim from Walter Kerr, in his book, The Decline of Pleasure:

"We are vaguely wretched because we are leading half-lives, half-heartedly, and with only one-half of our minds actively engaged in making contact with the universe about us."

Is that true of most people? Is it ever true of you, even half the time?

Just reading Kerr, I'm already vowing to make sure that, throughout this day, I'm playing life as a full contact sport, totally immersed, and committed to the full, with all my heart and mind.

How about you?

Show Us Your Fire

Each of us should be a star, a blaze of light in the darkness with inner fire that's clear to all. Let me quote a master on this.

“Does what goes on inside show on the outside? Someone has a great fire in his soul and nobody ever comes to warm themselves at it, and passers-by see nothing but a little smoke at the top of the chimney.” - Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh certainly showed his fire, and many have been warmed by it. And so, he was in a good position to write the words that I've quoted here. How about you and I? Do we show our fire? Is there just a little wisp of smoke wafting up? Or are we ablaze? Do we express our passions properly and well?

I love to be around people with fire in their hearts, people who care about things, those who burn with curiosity or commitment and so can warm the rest of us with their heat. If you think your fire has diminished to mere embers, find someone whose flame can reignite you. If you already have that blaze in your soul, then heed Van Gogh's words and let it show. We need your warmth. We need the light of your fire.

Energy is Eternal Delight

"Energy is eternal delight." William Blake.

Printer, painter, poet and mystic, William Blake knew what he was talking about. Samuel Smiles once praised energy and described its place in life like this: “It is energy - the central element of which is will - that produces the miracle of enthusiasm in all ages. Everywhere it is the mainspring of what is called force of character, and the sustaining power of all great action.”

Do you have that experience of eternal delight that Blake refers to, the motivating enthusiasm that Smiles so values?  If the answer is "no" or "rarely" then you should ask yourself some questions.

Are you well rested? Do you eat right? Do you exercize every day? Do you meditate or pray? Those are what philosophers call facilitating but not sufficient conditions for that inner magic that moves the world. The most important ingredient is a cause to believe in. Deeply.

Are you doing something you really believe in? If not, why not? Find a way to get a big picture for your work. Connect it to the meaning of life. Connect it to something noble. Or change what you do to something you can view in this way. Then you’ll experience the energy that's always at the heart of great endeavors. 

So get some rest. Eat right. Move around. Calm your spirit. And believe. Then surf on the good energy that can flow though you. 

Today.