Staring at Myself in the Universe
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Staring at Myself inthe Universe
Staring at Myself in
the Universe
An image of a moon over some foothills.
Staring at Myself in the Universe
When I look up at the Universe at night, I can’t help but wonder who’s looking back at me—not so much in a metaphysical way, but more in a self-reflection way. If we are lucky, we have seven, eight, nine, maybe even ten decades to live an existence from which we usually want to enjoy a meaningful life. Unfortunately, many of us piddle that time away with worrying about things we can’t control, looking for security we can’t ever really have, and searching for some sense of approval that “makes” us feel worthwhile. I should know; I did this for the first two decades of my adult life (until I was forty for you math aficionados). Stick with me here; I promise not to get more depressed-sounding—in fact, just the opposite.
By December 2009, I had spent the past twelve months suffering from depression and had not sought any help yet (seeking a therapist is another story for another day). However, being the “real” man I thought I was, I frequently sought guidance from close friends. I was talking with one of the wisest men I know. He is an author on the Oregon coast, named Robert Nichols. He’s a deep thinker, a mystic, and a really wonderful person. He told me a profound thing in that conversation. He said, “Blair, a crisis is when you find out how insignificant and small you are in the Universe. It’s also when you find out how astronomically important you are to the Universe.” My world was rocked to the core when I heard that.
“A crisis is when you find out how insignificant and small you are in the Universe.
It’s also when you find out how astronomically important you are to the Universe.”
- Robert Nichols
Months earlier, I had started to find coins (you can read about my coins here). Every time I saw a coin, for a brief second, I swear I heard a still, small voice say, “It’s going to be okay, Blair. Hang in there.” Robert’s words took my experience and clarified it to see it from an outside perspective. Instantly, I understood why I’d been finding two to ten coins a week for the past 30 weeks. I now believed I was that important to the Universe.
(Blair: Now, in November 2020, I still am still finding coins)
You are, too!
The Universe made you precisely the way you are! Can you see the gifts in it?
The mind you have, the body you have,
the life you live is a gift from beyond.
How you live and use that gift is up to you!
According to the Jewish and Christian Bible, God made us in the image and likeness of God (the Universe). The Upanishads also reflect this belief saying the Brahman (The universal self) and the Atman (the inner or individual self) are identical. I suspect the other religions also put forward this belief. In other words, you are perfect and whole. I understand and agree that frequently we don’t feel complete, perfect, and whole. That doesn’t change the reality, though.
Our emotions can drag us all over the place, especially if we’re unaware of them. However, using self-awareness and self-compassion, we can forge a path of Joy, Peace, and Contentment. We can have the life we dream about, a life full of living our most profound dreams and sharing our finest gifts with the world. Although we might not see them yet, we have these gifts under the clouds of feeling negative. Practicing self-awareness will open our eyes to seeing these gifts and utilizing them to create meaningful lives for ourselves.
Thank you for letting me walk with you as we create our life’s meaning. They are already inside of us, just waiting. It’s a blessing for me to watch you bloom into the perfection you already are. May you create some peace in your life today.
December, 11, 2014
Updated November 9, 2020
Dear Friend,
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