In the most elegant complexity possible, everything in creation exists not for itself but for everything interconnected to it.*
(Erwin McManus)

Looking at social mentalities and archetypes in general, theorists have recognised that “the innate” is only the potential and the social world we live in and the relationships that surround us guide and help develop our archetypal potential.**
(Paul Gilbert)

It can be tempting to think that focusing on ourselves – on our talents, energies, values – is something of a self-absorbent thing to do.

What we may be missing is bringing the very best of ourselves when it comes to being helpful to others:

We’re only as much as what we can give to others.^

It doesn’t matter who a person is, their background, their path so far in life, there are things to be discovered by them. All they need is the right environment for this to happen. We might be just the environment they need, and, when we do, we find ourselves stepping into an ancient story.

Therefore, I often remind those I work with that there is nothing indulgent in understanding more about ourselves and our calling to others:

Life is hard
You’re not as special as you think
Your life is not about you
You are not in control
You are going to die.^^

There’s a reason why this may feel self-absorbent at first. The new things we’re uncovering about ourselves need to be handled with increasing skill, but then we fall into wondering just what we might do with all of this for the good of others:

Beginners are always looking at themselves. … The better you get, the farther away you start to look.*^

I find this again and again in those I work with, the wonderful hopes they have of serving a cause greater than themselves. My hope each day in writing is to provide something that will feed, guide or remind.

I leave you with a blessing for your discovering:

Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet
immensity of your own presence.
…
Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its
path.^*

*From Erwin McManus’ The Way of the Warrior;
**From Paul Gilbert’s The Compassionate Mind;
^From gapingvoid’s Love in the Time Coronavirus: Part Two;
^^From Richard Rohr’s Adam’s Return;
*^From Tom Vanderbilt’s Beginners;
^*From John O’Donohue’s Benedictus: For Presence.