We are right in the midst of the Jewish High Holidays. The ten days between Rosh Hashana (last weekend) and Yom Kippur (this coming Saturday) are a period of “Teshuva”– which is conventionally translated as “repentance.” In this ten day period you are supposed to repent for all your sins over the past year. Our Rabbi talks about it differently. He calls it a period of “return” and encourages us to do self inquiry: in the last year when did you “miss the mark” from being your highest self land how can you return?
All spiritual disciplines speak about connection to the highest self — whether it’s a higher power, or to a god or goddess or the universal One.
What does “connection to your highest self” mean? Why is it so important? And what does it have to do with stress?
According to my understanding, “returning to one’s highest self” means “What actions can I take to live a healthy, peaceful life, so I can contribute well to my family, friends and community?” For me those actions are simple: exercise, good diet, adequate rest (I’m still working on that one!), taking care of my wife and family and treating people as I would like them to treat me.
Why are these things important? The holy scriptures in India say that when we are connected to our highest self life is ever new, ever conscious and ever blissful (“Satchitananda”). That sounds good to me.
What does this have to do with stress? Everything.
You’ll hear me say over and over again in this blog “Stress is a function of disconnection”. This means that when we are disconnected from our highest self — when we do things that do not support our health, our growth or the community — we feel stressed. And when we “return” — when we work to stay connected, we feel a whole lot better. Sometimes even blissful!
When have you reconnected with your highest self? What prompted your move in that direction?
How did it feel?
