Just One Thing (JOT)
is the free newsletter that suggests a simple practice each week for
more joy, more fulfilling relationships, and more peace of mind.
A small thing repeated routinely adds up over time to produce big results.
Just one thing that could change your life.
(© Rick Hanson, 2014)
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Click the button above or text JUSTONETHING to 22828 to subscribe to Just One Thing. (You can unsubscribe any time.) Go here for an archive of past JOTs. |
This comes from Rick Hanson, Ph.D.,
neuropsychologist, New York Times best-selling author, Advisory Board
member of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and invited
lecturer at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard universities. See Rick's workshops and lectures. |
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Discover the Simple Method to More Joy and Less Stress
The new book by Rick Hanson, PhD
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The Practice
Find what's sacred.
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Why?
The word, sacred, has two
kinds of meanings. First, it can refer to something related to religion
or spirituality. Second, more broadly, it can refer to something that
one cherishes, that is precious, to which one is respectfully, even
reverently, dedicated, such as honesty with one's life partner, old
growth redwoods, human rights, the light in a child's eyes, or longings for truth and justice and peace.
Both
senses of the word touch me deeply. But many people relate to just one
meaning, which is fine. You can apply what I'm saying here to either or
both meanings.
I think each one of us - whether theist, agnostic, or atheist - needs access to whatever
it is, in one's heart of hearts, that feels most precious and most
worthy of protection. Imagine a life in which nothing was sacred to you -
or to anyone else. To me, such a life would be barren and gray.
Sure,
some terrible actions have been taken in the name of avowedly sacred
things. But terrible actions have been taken for all kinds of other
reasons as well; the notion of the sacred is not a uniquely awful source
of bad behavior. And just because some people act badly in the name of
something does not alter whatever is good in that something.
Opening
to what's sacred to you contains an implicit stand that there really
are things that stand apart in their significance to you. What may be
most sacred is the possibility of the sacred!
If you're like me,
you don't stay continually aware of what's most dear to you. But when
you come back to it - maybe there is a reminder, perhaps at the birth of
a child, or at a wedding or a funeral, or walking deep in the woods -
there's a sense of coming home, of "yes," of knowing that this really
matters and deserves my honoring and protection and care.
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How?
For an
overview, notice how you feel about the idea of "sacred." Are there
mixed feelings about it? How has the rise of religious fundamentalism
worldwide over the past several decades - or the culture wars in general
- affected your attitudes toward "sacred"? In your own life, have you
been told that certain things were sacred that you no longer believe in?
Do you feel you have the right to name what is sacred to you even if it
is not sacred to others? Taking a little time to sort this out for
yourself, maybe also by talking with others, can clear the decks so that
you can know what's sacred for you.
In this
clearing, there are many ways to identify what is sacred for someone.
Maybe you already know. You could also find a place or time that is
particularly peaceful or meaningful - perhaps on the edge of the sea, or
curled up with tea in a favorite chair, or in a church or temple - and
softly raise questions in your mind like these: What's sacred? What inspires awe? A feeling of protection? Reverence? A sense of something holy?
Different
answers come to different people. And they may be wordless. For many,
what's most sacred is transcendent, numinous, and beyond language.
Whatever it
is that comes to you, explore what it's like to open to it, to receive
it, to give over to it. Make it concrete: what would a conversation be
like, or what would your day be like, if you did it with a sense of
something that's sacred to you?
Without
stress or pressure, see if there could be a deepening commitment to this
something sacred. How do you feel about making sanctuary for it, in
your attention and intentions, and in how you spend your time and other
resources?
Then, when
you do sustain a sense of the sacred, or involve it in some way in some
action, sense the results and let them sink in to you.
However it shows up for you, the sacred can be a treasure, a warmth, a mystery, a light, and a profound refuge.
I've teamed up with Happify,
a website with science-based, fun activities and games - from Gretchen
Rubin, Shawn Achor, and now me - that you can do to feel more confident,
grateful, optimistic, and just plain happy. We've turned key ideas and
methods from Hardwiring Happiness into 4 weeks' worth of reflections and easy little practices to rewire your brain for greater well-being. It's the Hardwiring Happiness: Grow Your Inner Strengths track.
When you first get to the Happify site, you have to answer some
questions, and then you can see my track. Like the other offerings on
this site, you can explore much of my track for free - and you can do
every bit of it if you upgrade to Happify Plus. Please visit this track
and tell other people about it!
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