Inner Work

For the week of: October 18, 2004

Will It Matter in a Year?

To gain some perspective on any situation, ask yourself whether what is confronting you today will matter a year from now. This question can help us separate the wheat from the chaff. We often make the mistake of being too concerned with situations and issues that lack real importance, while neglecting those that do matter.

Perhaps another driver’s rudeness upsets me terribly, even though his actions lose their significance almost immediately. On the other hand, maybe I forgo the small, but regular, daily work of practicing a musical instrument that I want to learn, or a daily period of studying a subject to advance my career, or practicing presence or meditation to complete my soul. These little efforts may seem insignificant taken separately, but they can add up to a major impact on the course of our life.

To value the important and devalue the unimportant in any situation, ask yourself whether it will matter in a year. Spiritually this helps us be less identified and more focused.

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