Matter

Matter is a physical substance, distinct from mind and spirit. It is a physics term to denote physical entities. Matter requires space. I often hear people say, “It doesn’t matter.” Or, “What’s the matter?” We can’t tangibly access our thoughts, emotions and spiritual state as something physical, but I don’t think anyone would argue that they are as physical as our blood and bones.

Most, if not all of the emotional dysfunction I come across can be tracked to the basic source of matter. Depression, anxiety, marital problems, parenting issues, you name it. It always comes down to the question of “Do I matter?” If I am matter, if I rightfully take up space in the universe, than I must be worthy of being alive. I am worth fighting for. If I don’t matter, there is nothing to fight for. Getting to the place of matter is the only way we can begin the work to reclaim lives.

Finding your matter is grounding. When you come down to the basic question, your feet touch the earth. You are part of the space all around us, firmly footed in gravity. Matter doesn’t compare to matter. It just is. You are matter, I am matter. No one is better matter than the other, matter isn’t smarter, wiser, more successful. It just is. A physical entity.

Imagine yourself as a tree, deeply rooted in the ground, breathing the oxygen around you, your strong trunk reaching up to the sky, spreading out into branches, leaves and fruit. Nothing can sway you in this physical presence. Dysfunction or pain then becomes a visitor on one of the branches rather than the core. The problem is not you as a primary being, it is just a part of you, that needs careful tending to heal, or in some cases to let go of (when you have outgrown that extension of yourself). Staying grounded in the matter at the core, we can isolate the issue and do the work that needs to be done.