Dictionary defines “Ordinary” as; with no special or distinctive features; normal, usual, standard, typical, common and it defines “Extra ordinary” as; exceptional, amazing, stunning, incredible, unbelievable, outstanding, unforgettable, unique, noteworthy.
The misconception begins when we start finding ways to be extra ordinary to feel worthy. Very soon our self-worth is shifted to the extra ordinary in order to value ourselves and eventually the ordinary becomes something that seems to be lacking and deficient in some ways.
Not sure where it all began, but its fallacy is beyond being humorous as we force ourselves and our children to be extra ordinary at all times in everything we do in order to qualify ourselves as being successful.
However, there is a different view that explains it all in harmony. To be ordinary as our default state of being in complete joy, peace and perfection without superiority or inferiority. Sometimes, we choose to be extra ordinary when we are inspired and desiring to experience something different and without superiority or inferiority just as before but for the enjoyment of that experience. It is like going hiking and enjoying the hike on a nice sunny day when you choose to have a different experience of flying for a few hours and do some hang gliding along the way. Each experience has its own values without being superior or inferior to the other one.
Assuming that the above is understood, the next question would be “How do we get to be extra ordinary? “If you want to be ordinary investigate what is happening. If you want to be Extra Ordinary investigate what is not happening”.
It seems that our virtue starts when we are not aware of something or just simply do not know. Once we know it, we do two things. We either take action or do nothing. This necessarily does not mean physical action, it could be just a thought as an action or be silent with no thought about it as no action.
Nevertheless, we are accustom to analyzing all our movements by the actions that we take as the only important part of this measuring bar. Consequently, we do not put any emphasis or value on the time that we remain silent considering it nonexistence. Similarly, we recognize and are pre occupied with the state of our health by investigating the rhythm and sound of our heart beats where the part that is silent and the gap that exists between the two heart beats does not get as much recognition. It is given that it exists but it seems that has no value.
Historically, the most extra ordinary generals, scientists, philosophers, teachers, pioneers, leaders, attorneys, politicians and business people react otherwise. They tend to investigate and analyze what is not happening in order to excel and succeed to reach the levels that we qualify as being extra ordinary.
Our misconception may be that extraordinary people are ordinary people whom are acting in some extra way above what is expected of them. However, the extra ordinary part comes from recognizing the importance of not doing things at the right time. It is the way of extra ordinary to value the silence as the extra step to make all that maybe qualified as impossible by some to bring to possibilities.
“The window is the absence of the wall, and it gives air and light because it is empty. Be empty of all mental content, of all imagination and effort, and the very absence of obstacles will cause reality to rush in”. (Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj)
Alex Abossein,
InnerFit, Oasis For Perfect Health