Be

On this traditional day of celebrating mythical resurrection, I would encourage the reader to consider being. I am not a liberated slave in ancient Egypt or resurrected martyr in ancient Jerusalem. I am a human being in this moment looking at the light of day and working toward making my day an expression of my values, my hopes, my love. This is all I am in the fragile, fleeting moment in time and space.



Be. That is what I suggest to those whom I love and to those for whom I wish peace. Be your ideal. Be your future. Be your finest self. Get rid of the "if only" factor in your life. "If I only had a million dollars...If I only had thick hair....If I were only taller....If I were only younger..." Get rid of the "if only". It is useless time- wasting and brain-wasting.

I use my environment to help me be in the moment. If there is something that displeases me in my living situation or my physical space, I fix it. If I do not like where I am living, I move. If I do not like how I am living, I make changes. It still amazes me how effectively moving my furniture around or getting rid of clutter changes my attitude and makes me think differently. Think this is silly? Try it. It works better than buying more things to make myself happy.

 

Ancient Tomb in Palestine

The symbol of the stone portal being rolled away from the tomb of the resurrected Christ of myth has always appealed to me as a symbol of lifting depression. The weight of the boulder of depression is unbearable until it begins to give way just a little with sustained effort. Each budge builds slowly into a momentum. Resurrection comes when depression becomes manageable, movable.

The decision to be is the decision to stay in the moment, the one place where I can effect change in my life. For some, the decision to be is the first straining push against the boulder of depression. Waking to simply being the best version of me, according to my own best values and best aspirations, every day gradually rolls the boulder of depression away. A deep well of creative energy is accessible, when I focus on being my best self in physical health, mental health and social health.

Many of us are entombed in stagnant family roles, social conformity and competitve materialism. These are depressive processes, developed by dependency and addiction to things that do not really bring sustainable joy. We are encouraged by the power-hungry and greedy to be good consumers and followers. This is not being our best selves. I have found the great liberation of humanism to be the awakening to my own being, my own better self. By allowing myself to express my natural desire for love and peace in my life, I have discovered what it means to be my best self. This requires hard work. I will not deny that. But, it all begins with the decision to practice being my best self moment to moment without holding back or making excuses for not trying. This is my humanist practice.