Most people never really change.
Sad, but true.
Some people never even try.
But those of us who do try often experience great frustration and
disappointment as we encounter the same limitations over and over again.
Life can start to seem downright repetitive.
Creating Something From Nothing
Why is it that in most cases your life keeps looking like some variation of
whatever we've experienced before?
The answer is: because we are creating something from something. We're
attempting to create a new and different future based on the limitations of our
past.
Imagine that you are a potter and you have a piece of clay. You can study
your craft and make pots that are smoother, sturdier, or more beautiful than
before. But when all is said and done, they're still just clay pots.
Who says you have to be a potter? And who says you can only make things out
of clay?
G-d Creates Something From Nothing
There is a fundamental kabbalistic principle of Creation known as yesh
m'ayin--"something from nothing."
This principle explains that G-d is bringing the entire world, including me
and you, into existence from absolute nothingness at every moment.
G-d didn't create this world once and withdraw back into Heaven, where He
supervises from a distance and intervenes when appropriate. Rather, He is
actively and intentionally speaking the world into existence from nothing
in the present moment, again and again and again. In fact, if G-d would stop
creating this world--with all of its myriad details--at any moment, the world
and everything in it would disappear as if it had never been.
Based on this, two things are clear:
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The world has no existence outside of G-d. Everything we experience in life
is part of G-d and His intention and purpose for Creation.
-
G-d desires the world--and you as an individual being--with an intense and personal desire.
Everything you do has great meaning and significance to Him. That's why He keeps
on creating you.
Remember the old commercial where a little kid said something like: "I
must be good because G-d made me, and G-d doesn't make junk"?
Actually, the truth is much more powerful than that. G-d doesn't make
anything or anyone without a profound purpose. He passionately desires you and
just as passionately wants you to desire Him. And He is waiting--with bated
breath--for you to embrace the Divine purpose for which you have been created.
To make your life, your relationships and your circumstances a “dwelling place”
for the Divine.
What Is Nothingness?
G-d creates from Nothing because Nothingness, ayin, actually means
absolute, infinite possibility. No limitations. No restrictions. None at all.
When you don't need to be any particular something, you're free to be
anything. Kabbalah calls this infinite potential "nothingness"--not because
there's nothing there, but because there are absolutely no limitations that
define or restrict this infinite possibility in any way.
You're Already Creating Something From Nothing
As a human being created in the image of G-d, you are also empowered to
create something from nothing. And you do, all the time.
Unfortunately, most of the time what we create from nothing are the stories
about what we can't do, aren't capable of, will never have--together with all
the reasons why.
These stories are continuously being recreated from nothing in each of our
lives. But unlike G-d, who creates consciously, we create this reality
unconsciously. It's a sort of default programming. Yes, we may
have reasons for what we believe are our limitations, but those reasons, while they may help
to explain our past, do not have the power to limit our future. Unless we
think they do, and act accordingly.
Most of us don't wake up in the morning in awe of our own potential, in touch
with our Divine purpose, filled with the joy of life, ready to create. More
often we wake up all-too-conscious of our limitations, our disappointments, our
frustrations, our unfulfilled needs, and the burdensome problems we need to
solve. No wonder so many of us are worn out before we even get out of bed.
Harold and The Purple Crayon
You might have read a cute little children's book called "Harold and the
Purple Crayon." In this book, Harold, a baby, draws things with his purple
crayon on his bedroom walls. He draws things like castles, mountains, roads and
tigers. The interesting part is that then Harold climbs the mountains, runs down
the roads, explores the castles and runs away from the tigers. Sometimes he gets
so far into the picture that he can't figure out how to get home again--but
then, he just takes his purple crayon and draws the road back.
Harold is always creating something from nothing.
You can create something from nothing, too.
Your life, your present and future, is actually an ayin--a "nothing" of infinite potential.
Yes, it is true that as a soul in a specific physical body, there are some limits to what
you can create.
But you have no idea what they are.
-- Do you want to experience unconditional love? How would you behave if you
were committed to love others unconditionally, especially those people who long
for your love? Your parents. Your children. Your spouse. Your friends. What if
you noticed, accepted and appreciated the way they love you--even if it doesn't
yet look exactly the way you want it to look?
What might happen today if you behaved that way? What if you stayed
committed to that experience over time--what might happen to your most intimate
relationships, your family, your community, your world? Don't shortchange
yourself by skipping over this question. Really think about it.
-- Do you want to experience your power to live as a creator rather than a
victim in your life? How would you behave if you refused to let your fears and
past failures put any limits on what you do right now?
What would you do that you've been putting off? What else? What might you
actually create or achieve over time if you do those things? And perhaps even
more important, what would life be like for you right now if you choose
to be a person who isn't stopped by fear?
Do you want to be more intimately in touch with your Creator and your Divine
purpose? How would you behave if you were a person committed to seeing G-d's
intimate, infinite and loving presence in all aspects of your life? What if
every action you take was based on the assumption that nothing is wrong--because
G-d is intentionally, creating your world right now on behalf of your ultimate
purpose and fulfillment?
What might your life be like--today--if you behaved that way? How
about your relationships? Your energy? Your happiness? Your peace of mind?
Like a farmer who tills his field, plants seeds, waters and tends them,
sometimes it can take time to see the results of your efforts. But if you are
willing to create something from nothing, you don't have to twiddle your thumbs
while you wait for things to grow. The very decision to be a creator in your own
life brings with it some powerful, intrinsic rewards; rewards like joy,
fulfillment--and miracles.
