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Audio Presentation: Your North Star…
SQ-1.5
Sitting Quietly: Your North Star…
Your North Star is a metaphorical reference to your best self…a person you come to comprehend, and imagine, and hope will live their life as best they can.
This “best self” is an idealized version of both who you are…and what you can be. A human being able to feel joy and yet suffer pain, to influence and affect others, and to strive and achieve. This “vision” of your best self is something that will mature over time, in the sense of its truth and clarity; yet the fundamental character and essence of your best self will remain…steady, accessible, enduring.
One might find it beneficial to define or articulate their vision, understanding, and desire for what their best self is, and should be,and will do. Some people use a personal mission statement to describe and establish what they want to be and want to accomplish in this life; and this, or some abridged version, would serve nicely as “a North Star.”
And so you might also find that your North Star – this idea and ideal of what you want, and how, to be- may serve as a guide to do just that: to help you be, and become, the person you want in any given moment, situation, or role you find yourself in. Like the real North Star for mariners of the past, it can be a kind of steady, reliable, and reassuring beacon to show you the way – especially in times of uncertainty, disagreement, or confrontation – as life’s journey unfolds in an ever changing and often unpredictable world.
Whether or not you are one who can “point to their North Star,” this exercise tries to bring you – or maybe “bring you back” – in touch with it, or at least to consider what or where it might be. For some, this is possibly “new ground” as, for most people, finding or discovering your North Star was not something formally taught or determined in growing up. Childhood for many was far more being “told” and “educated” in what others thought you should be– this serving as your purpose in life (i.e., to meet and satisfy all those imposed expectations). And thus, for many, one might consider that such a “North Star” has been “determined” by a kind of proxy…
But then…maybe you were fortunate to have been encouraged to “find your passion” or “be whatever you want to be”…and maybe found that this has been your goal and purpose in life.
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In any event, then…sit up and get comfortable – close your eyes and bring your focus to the breath…
And now, here in this moment, let’s reflect on the question, “How do I want to live my life?”
Consider:
Do I want to live a meaningful life – in however I now understand and define what this might be?
Do I want to make a difference in the lives I touch?
Do I want to be the best kind of family – as in parent, daughter, son, sister, brother, etc – I can possibly be?
Do I want to serve God or some higher power?
Do I want to change the world – in my given space and place, or in the greater environment I am a part of?
Do I want to achieve something…like be (fill in the blank [e.g., doctor, social worker, athlete, music maker])…or, make something (e.g., art, houses, jokes, money, or something grow…)?
- Do I want, when all is said and done, to leave the world a better place because I was here? How might that look?
…so take a few moments to verbalize (in your head for now) what might define or describe your North Star. (Maybe even take a pause in this exercise to actually write down your thoughts…)
Now, consider some principles that give rise to such meaning, value, and quality of life experience – for they are the planets surrounding your North Star. Let’s start with kindness…and honesty; the Golden Rule; loyalty; sharing; tolerance…
One more principle to consider–humility. It is one that reminds us: “I am not perfect…and still have much to learn.”
It’s been said a smart person learns from their mistakes – so, “Have I been smart…enough?”
It’s also been said that a wise person learns from the mistakes of others – so, ”Am I wise?”
But then also, much of my imperfection derives from all my prior “toxic conditioning,” for which there is this antidote: Be Open…Be Curious…and Be Flexible…
Take a few more quiet breaths…and step calmly into the rest of your day…
