The Magic of Seeing Everything as Sacred

The Magic of Seeing Everything as Sacred(ˈsākrid)

By Leo Babauta

When we wake up in the morning, many of us automatically(ˌôtəˈmatik) go on our phones or computers and start reading, checking messages, responding to things, and moving through our online world on autopilot(ˈôtōˈpīlət).

We go through our day like this as well, managing(ˈmanijiNG) as best we can, dealing with stress(stres) and being overwhelmed, moving through the physical(ˈfizikəl) world forgetting to be mindful.

For the most part, everything is normal. We’re managing. On good days, things go pretty(ˈpritē) well. On bad days, frustration(frəˈstrāSHən) and stress get to us.

But what if we could shift everything in a magical way?

What would happen if we changed the way we saw every single thing around us, including other people, including ourselves(ou(ə)rˈselvz,är-), including every little thing we see?

Try this: view(vyo͞o) every single thing you see as sacred.

See what happens.

Now, I’ll admit(ədˈmit) that “sacred” is a loaded word for many people who are not religious(riˈlijəs). It literally(ˈlitrə-,ˈlitərəlē) means “connected with God (or the gods),” and so if you’re not religious, it might seem a bit dumb(dəm). But I don’t believe in God, and still find value in the idea that things might be sacred. Hear me out.

“Sacred” is simply(ˈsimplē) elevating(ˈeləˌvāt) something to the level of divine(diˈvīn). That might be God, if you believe in God, but it could be the divinity(diˈvinitē) in the universe(ˈyo͞onəˌvərs), the miracle(ˈmirikəl) of existence(igˈzistəns) and every moment. If you think of how crazy it is that we exist(igˈzist), and think of how wonderful and miraculous(məˈrakyələs) this universe is … I would argue(ˈärgyo͞o) that it’s divine, no matter what you believe in.

Look outside: the trees and flowers(ˈflou(-ə)r) and birds you can see are filled with divinity. They are absolutely(ˌabsəˈlo͞otlē) sacred. So is the wind, the stars, the sunlight falling upon the faces of strangers, the ability(əˈbilitē) to see colors and to have a conversation and connection with a fellow(ˈfelō) human being.

…
https://zenhabits.net/divine/