by Carol Hohle

Sometimes I sit on the bus and wonder what’s going on in the minds of the 60 other folks traveling up Michigan Avenue along side me. I look at all the people and wonder … who’s planning the next big societal innovation on their way to the office; who’s thinking through the day’s class curriculum on their way to school to teach our children; who’s bracing themselves for a hospital visit to see a loved one or to visit the doctor themselves; who’s planning to go shopping at Macy’s or the Apple store and for what; is anyone just going for a “joy ride”?

Living in the city it’s hard to not pass a couple dozen people in the span of 10 minutes. And, in the city where I live, it’s pretty much the accepted norm to not acknowledge the other person and instead remain in our own head as if the other person wasn’t there. It’s like we all have bought into the Harry Potter construct of the “invisible cloak” and everyone’s got one! Some days I really appreciate my “invisible cloak,” most days though I try to engage and saying “hello” try to garner a response and smile.

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of living in my own head. I think it may be my life long lesson to learn how not to be so into my own head. This summer, I was revisiting this challenge once again!

One of the ways I get caught up in my own head has to do with the persistent questioning about my life’s purpose and how I may or may not be making a difference in helping this world be a better place. I often feel like an under performer and lost in the whole not-knowing of what it’s-all-about department of life.

Something I’ve been thinking about regarding life’s purpose is the concept of “right sizing” myself. How can I, along with the rest of humanity, see myself differently in my relationship to the rest of creation? Can I consider the concept that the human species may not be the smartest, the best aspect of creation? Could I re-imagine my interconnectivity and cherish more of a “we” than a “me” view about life? And, what would these reframed views about life yield for my well-being and, perhaps, for the well-being and longevity of this planet?

This summer as I pondered once again the disconnection I felt with the wholeness of life and the subsequent feelings of purposeless-ness I was reminded of a spiritual practice – “letting go.” On the surface “letting go” might feel like an avoidance tactic. But, I’ve been learning of its benefits, especially when I have aligned my intentions with my truest desire to be more at-one and more humble about my place in creation.

There is a quote from Thomas a Kempis that speaks to me about the art of letting go, “To sum up, dear friend of Mine, unclench your fists, and let everything fly out of your hands. Clean yourself up nicely and stay faithful to your Creator.”

Unclench my fists and let everything fly out of my hands. Yup, that pretty much articulates my ongoing challenge along with the key to getting out of my head.

How do you live for the world and get out of your own head?