Albert Einstein once said that the most important question for humanity to answer was “Is the universe a friendly place?” Wow, what an interesting, thought-provoking topic for conversation.
Apparently his reasoning was that if we think the universe is friendly, whatever we create will originate from that mindset and we’ll work to generate peace and security. In other words, we’ll have chosen love. If not, we’ll use our energy to try to create safety and power to cope with what we perceive as a frightening place. In this scenario our motivation will be fear.
In my earlier years I might have answered Einstein’s question differently, but now the answer seems obvious. As I contemplate this dilemma, I’m reminded that we see the universe not as it is but as we are. Because in my younger years I had not yet learned to love and care for myself, I might have decided the universe was a scary place in which to live. I spent a lot of time being afraid, not knowing another way to be.
I’ve since learned that we create our own personal realities, and we always have a choice. I love the little rhyme “We’re not born winners; we’re not born losers; we’re born choosers.” I know now in every moment I get to choose whether or not to make my universe a friendly place.
You and I get to choose whether to harshly judge ourselves or encourage ourselves as our own best friends. We get to choose to treat our bodies with healthy food and regular exercise – or not. We get to choose whether to listen to our intuition that truly guides us every step through every facet of our lives or follow someone else’s wishes and desires that don’t fit for us. We get to choose to wallow in guilt, remorse, past trauma and anxiety or pick ourselves up in forgiveness and love, knowing we’re only human.
There are really only two basic choices every single second, every single day. Do we choose love or do we choose fear? We won’t do it perfectly because we’re human and there are many factors that make it difficult in the moment, but setting that deep down intention for love is the first step. Making that choice is crucial for each one of us today.
What choices can you make to live in a friendly universe?
