You Matter More Than You Are Matter

I heard this clever little quip, can’t remember where, that really resonated with me and I want to share it with you. It goes “You matter more than you are matter.”

It’s a great play on words. Everything in the physical world is made up of matter. It takes up space as a solid, liquid, or gas. This means that every part of us is physical matter. This is how we exist in the physical realm.

But equally we matter in the grand scope of the universe, in an existential realm. A lot of people find this hard to believe, myself included, because the universe is so infinite and expansive. How can the choices of a single organism on a tiny planet in the vastness of space offer anything consequential?

You can field that question by talking about the ripple effect. The truth is, what happens in any moment is the single reality that was created among an infinite number of possibilities. This means that the present moment can only ever be that way because you exist within it, and every choice prior to it is woven into the existence that came to be. You as physical matter will come and go, but the way you alter the trajectory of existence is permanent.

On a less philosophical level, you matter because you are so much more than your physical make up. You have a soul and consciousness that transcends what happens in the physical realm. Your personality, passions, dreams are a much better representation of who you are. They define your existence more than your body ever could, which is why it matters that much more.

No matter what I say, ultimately it’s a choice for you to make: Either everything matters, or nothing does. And I guess what I’m trying to encourage is that you recognize the power in your life - not only that what you do changes your own experiences but impacts others and their experience. 

You can choose to treat everything like it's consequential, because it is… Or you can choose to treat things like they don’t matter, because they don’t have much significance anyway. I believe a much more joyful life is one where you take ownership of your choices, steward the spaces you’re gifted with, and impact the future in the ways you can.

Even if it all goes away and a million years from now no one would notice the difference, choosing to see that you matter in life infuses you with a greater sense of purpose. 

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