“Each day is the first day: each day a life. Each morning we must hold out the chalice of our being to receive, to carry, and given back. It must be held out empty—for the past must only be reflected in its polish, its shape , its capacity.”
-Dag Hammarskjold
When you wake up in the morning and before you check your phone or do anything else, what thoughts come into your mind? Do you look at the day that lies ahead as just another day? Same old, same old? Or do you look at the day as a new day? A fresh start with a fresh perspective of the great things that are going and what you may experience. My hope is that it is the latter. Swedish economist Dag Hammarskjold’s quote encourages us to treat each day as the first day, each day a life all it’s own. We have the opportunity to treat each day as a gift that allows to not only receive the wonders of the day, but to carry those cherished experiences and somehow give it back into the world for others to hopefully enjoy the same emotions of the day. He refers to this as being like a chalice which is a large cup or goblet usually used for drinking during a ceremony. I think he looks as this chalice as being the chalice of celebrating life. He concludes that once its contents are finished which symbolizes that the day is now in the past, that that same chalice is ready to receive the dawning of a new day and a fresh start.
When we look at our lives and each new day that comes before like the way he describes we are able to gain a sense of true self awareness. We are able to truly embrace the moment. It is a moment that we have a blessing to experience every day. Each day is a new day with new opportunities. We essentially are able to get in touch with our emotions, thoughts and feelings. It allows us to put everything that has happened and the excitement of what will happen into perspective. We perceive our lives in what we think and feel. We can start the day with a growth mindset if we choose to do so. Treat each day like it’s the first day and as a new fresh start because it is. Embrace the moment. Embrace the beauty and joy of you just being alive.
What does this quote mean to you and how can you apply today’s message towards improving your self awareness?
Becoming The Change 