BIG ideas.

Copernicus & You by David K. Reynolds

You remember Copernicus, right? He's the brilliant guy who pointed out the fact that our little planet Earth was not, after all, the center of the universe. D'oh.

Well, guess what? Same thing with our lives.

As David Reynolds says in his book, Constructive Living:

"The most peaceful people I know have given themselves away... On the other hand, the most miserable people I have known have been self-focused. They worry about getting their share; they evaluate everyone's acts in terms of how they themselves are affected."

The moment we realize that we ARE NOT the center of the universe, remarkable things happen.

Reynolds continues: "The Japanese language uses a single word for self-centered and selfish. The word is "jiko-chushin." It means, literally, the self in the middle of the heart--the ego in the center of the mind. It means putting Old Number One first."

What a powerful image for selfishness: the self in the middle of the heart...

So, back to our astronomy lesson. The Earth is NOT in the center of the universe. And, neither are we.

I think the important question to ask is: How can we open up more to the world today and give ourselves a little more to our families, to our colleagues, to our communities, to our countries, to our world?

"One of the key aims of Constructive Living is to pull your attention away from excessive self-focus and push it outward until you begin to see your self as part of your own surroundings." ~ David K. Reynolds from Constructive Living