Do You See a World in a Grain of Sand?

How Do You “Show Up” in this world? Do you take the time to reflect? Let's ponder.

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

William Blake teaches us the art of leadership in this very short phrase in his Auguries of Innocence poem by realizing that we can uncover our truths in the smallest of things- like a grain of sand. Knowledge of the whole world or your whole existence can be found in the small ways by which you see yourself and by how you show up in this life- both to yourself and to others. And some of the small things (that are not so great) can absolutely, in fact, be representative of the whole- without the slightest bit of your acknowledgement, it begins to add up. The smallest of triggers, reactions or indifferent responses, disrespects, lack of integrity- all if it and other malfunctions of us humans can have a large effect on our whole.

They say that when a butterfly flaps his wings it can be felt thousands of miles away. A tiny change can make a vast impact- and effect everything.

So in a sense, taking responsibility for your actions that may be hurting someone even if you don’t want to face them or see it their way- can have a much larger effect.

On the positive side, our imagination, vision and seeing the big picture can have a bright effect on our lives- much more than we think. A single wildflower is a mere spec of reflection of entire patches of grass covered in flowering fields. There’s so much hidden beauty in the smallest, perhaps most mundane of things and with our minds and hearts, if we take the moments to see them as such, we are living our lives in a divine light. The dreamers and the doers get it- so keep dreaming and doing.

I included this poem today because I feel that it’s a wonderful example for us to reflect daily on how we’re showing up to others through the art of communication, through authenticity and kindness. I made a short video about it as well. Also... 'the way we are' can seem like a grain of sand to us, but can be infinite to others so the sheer deep reflection of that idea can make an impact if you so choose to allow it inside of your heart.

The full poem is below my video and if you want to comment and share your thoughts, please do- I always love to hear from my colleagues in this great big world of ours.

• Cool side note if you like Jim Morrison and the Doors. Jim Morrison was a huge Blake fan. In fact, the name "The Doors" comes from another Blake poem, "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," which talks about cleansing "the doors of perception." In a track from "End of the Night", Morrison quotes Blake's lines from "Auguries" about how some people are either born "to sweet delight" or "endless night."

Happy Monday!

Elizabeth Barry is an author, marketing guru and a badass leadership coach. She teaches people self-love, exceptional ways to share their gifts and how to live a life fulfilled, both in and out of the office. For over a decade, she's helped leaders discover their business BEST through the art of powerful communication. Elizabeth's coaching transforms lives, unblock energies and help CEOs, managers and Founders engage in discovering and rediscovering their creative life powers. She will coach you on how to become more coachable. Are you ready for your next? www.elizabethbarryconsulting.com.

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

A robin redbreast in a cage

Puts all heaven in a rage.

A dove-house fill'd with doves and pigeons

Shudders hell thro' all its regions.

A dog starv'd at his master's gate

Predicts the ruin of the state.

A horse misused upon the road

Calls to heaven for human blood.

Each outcry of the hunted hare

A fibre from the brain does tear.

A skylark wounded in the wing,

A cherubim does cease to sing.

The game-cock clipt and arm'd for fight

Does the rising sun affright.

Every wolf's and lion's howl

Raises from hell a human soul.

The wild deer, wand'ring here and there,

Keeps the human soul from care.

The lamb misus'd breeds public strife,

And yet forgives the butcher's knife.

The bat that flits at close of eve

Has left the brain that won't believe.

The owl that calls upon the night

Speaks the unbeliever's fright.

He who shall hurt the little wren

Shall never be belov'd by men.

He who the ox to wrath has mov'd

Shall never be by woman lov'd.

The wanton boy that kills the fly

Shall feel the spider's enmity.

He who torments the chafer's sprite

Weaves a bower in endless night.

The caterpillar on the leaf

Repeats to thee thy mother's grief.

Kill not the moth nor butterfly,

For the last judgement draweth nigh.

He who shall train the horse to war

Shall never pass the polar bar.

The beggar's dog and widow's cat,

Feed them and thou wilt grow fat.

The gnat that sings his summer's song

Poison gets from slander's tongue.

The poison of the snake and newt

Is the sweat of envy's foot.

The poison of the honey bee

Is the artist's jealousy.

The prince's robes and beggar's rags

Are toadstools on the miser's bags.

A truth that's told with bad intent

Beats all the lies you can invent.

It is right it should be so;

Man was made for joy and woe;

And when this we rightly know,

Thro' the world we safely go.

Joy and woe are woven fine,

A clothing for the soul divine.

Under every grief and pine

Runs a joy with silken twine.

The babe is more than swaddling bands;

Throughout all these human lands;

Tools were made and born were hands,

Every farmer understands.

Every tear from every eye

Becomes a babe in eternity;

This is caught by females bright,

And return'd to its own delight.

The bleat, the bark, bellow, and roar,

Are waves that beat on heaven's shore.

The babe that weeps the rod beneath

Writes revenge in realms of death.

The beggar's rags, fluttering in air,

Does to rags the heavens tear.

The soldier, arm'd with sword and gun,

Palsied strikes the summer's sun.

The poor man's farthing is worth more

Than all the gold on Afric's shore.

One mite wrung from the lab'rer's hands

Shall buy and sell the miser's lands;

Or, if protected from on high,

Does that whole nation sell and buy.

He who mocks the infant's faith

Shall be mock'd in age and death.

He who shall teach the child to doubt

The rotting grave shall ne'er get out.

He who respects the infant's faith

Triumphs over hell and death.

The child's toys and the old man's reasons

Are the fruits of the two seasons.

The questioner, who sits so sly,

Shall never know how to reply.

He who replies to words of doubt

Doth put the light of knowledge out.

The strongest poison ever known

Came from Caesar's laurel crown.

Nought can deform the human race

Like to the armour's iron brace.

When gold and gems adorn the plow,

To peaceful arts shall envy bow.

A riddle, or the cricket's cry,

Is to doubt a fit reply.

The emmet's inch and eagle's mile

Make lame philosophy to smile.

He who doubts from what he sees

Will ne'er believe, do what you please.

If the sun and moon should doubt,

They'd immediately go out.

To be in a passion you good may do,

But no good if a passion is in you.

The whore and gambler, by the state

Licensed, build that nation's fate.

The harlot's cry from street to street

Shall weave old England's winding-sheet.

The winner's shout, the loser's curse,

Dance before dead England's hearse.

Every night and every morn

Some to misery are born,

Every morn and every night

Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight,

Some are born to endless night.

We are led to believe a lie

When we see not thro' the eye,

Which was born in a night to perish in a night,

When the soul slept in beams of light.

God appears, and God is light,

To those poor souls who dwell in night;

But does a human form display

To those who dwell in realms of day.