I Didn’t Meditate This Morning

February 28, 2010

I didn’t meditate this morning. I didn’t pray, or read any sacred text. Although I generally do some or all of these things in the morning, I couldn’t today. I was caught up in fulfilling my Calling.

After loading up the coffee pot with French Roast I stumbled over to the living room and noticed that my computer was still on from last night. With the dripping of the coffee in the background, I rubbed my eyes and began to read and then to edit a chapter I’m writing. The editing quickly turned into new ideas and concepts and some of the challenging parts of the text started to come together pretty rapidly. I grabbed a cup of coffee as quickly as I could and continued to write. No breakfast or shower as I lost track of time. Suddenly I looked up at the clock—it was lunch time. I had written several thousand words and finished the chapter. I liked what I had written and, frankly, felt an enormous amount of joy throughout the morning.

Buddhists describe the experience as effortless effort. The social scientist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi calls it flow. The management consultant Bernhard Haldane calls it energizing strengths. Whatever it’s called, the experience of using your unique design, your gifts and talents in alignment with your Calling is an extraordinarily fulfilling experience. This experience is available to everyone who surrenders to his or her Calling. Effortless effort is a validation from your internal navigation system that you’re on the right track in terms of how you’re spending your life’s energies. This morning reminded me of Mae West’s comment: “Too much of a good thing is wonderful!”