You have asked about finding a balance between being
spontaneous, sincere and easy-going and also attending seriously to one's
responsibilities and obligations. There are many factors, both external and
internal, involved in forming one's character and learning to cope with the
exigencies of life. Ultimately, each individual must work out a pattern for
living, according to his understanding of the Teachings and the dictates of his
conscience. One should seek to identify practical steps in each important area
of one's life and then make a plan to effect these, resolutely surmounting
obstacles, which can breed a sense of frustration and paralysis. According to
one's position in the life cycle, certain activities will naturally be accorded
a higher priority at a given moment than others, as each season offers
possibilities that must be seized. You should have no undue anxiety about
having to prioritize your time in this manner. Gradually, as one cultivates
one's abilities and polishes the mirror of one's soul through prayer,
meditation, and service, an underlying rhythm of life begins to emerge. Shoghi
Effendi, in a letter written on his behalf to an individual, offered a valuable
insight into the kind of life to which Bahá'ís ought to aspire: The great thing
is to "live the life"-- to have our lives so saturated with the
Divine teachings and the Bahá'í Spirit that people cannot fail to see a joy, a
power, a love, a purity, a radiance, an efficiency in our character and work
that will distinguish us from worldly-minded people and make people wonder what
is the secret of this new life in us.
(From a letter dated September 4, 1994,
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
