Inspiration.
We all know how it can be flash-in-the-pan. Think of new year’s resolutions, diets, etc. We mean well, but it doesn’t always translate into transformative living.
Perfunctory behavior.
We all recognize it when we say or do something on auto-pilot, without purposeful motivation.
Inspiration that doesn’t translate into real action is like a soul without a body. Action without genuine intent is like a body without a soul.
If I live a life sprinkled with intangible, not-yet-actualized, inspiration, I’ve lived a life with sparks but no fire. At the same time, if I live a life of positive behavior without inspiration, then my life may be like a diamond without brilliance.
Each of these – inspiration and positive behavior - is a necessary ingredient, and each needs the other for genuine fulfillment. So how do we bring them together? How do achieve integrity in furtherance of a life well-lived?
We need consciousness. When I feel an inspiring thought, when the warmth of meaning hits me, I can’t just pat myself on the back for having good thoughts. I must immediately recognize the need to anchor my inspiration in concrete life.
When I’m doing something, I need to have some measure of introspection and ask myself: Is this genuine? Do I feel what I’m doing?
My higher ‘me’ needs to guide my instinctive ‘me’ to a life of integrity.
What is that higher ‘me’? What deeper consciousness can help me integrate my inspiration and my actions? What higher sense can help guide me toward more focused behavior?
In Jewish spirituality we call this higher sense wisdom (‘chochmah’ in Hebrew). Wisdom is vision. It’s a guiding awareness of who we need to be. It’s a deeply rooted compass that is honed by life’s experiences and struggles.
Wisdom is called the soul’s ‘oil’; the ‘fuel’ of meaningful living. Just as an olive yields its oil through a painful squeeze, our souls produce much of our wisdom through challenge and pain.
When ignited by a spark of inspiration, our oil (wisdom) integrates our actions with our soul awareness and they burn together as a steady flame, lighting up our lives.
For real.