Live in a state of relaxed alertness, almost like a waking hypnotic state.
Our bodies often behave as though life is an emergency. We tense our muscles, tighten our jaws, hold our breath, and prepare for threats that may never arrive. But tension is not strength, and relaxation is not weakness. A relaxed body allows us to participate fully in life without being consumed by it. We can work, compete, struggle, and act decisively while remaining physically at ease. The principle is simple: whatever is happening around you, release unnecessary tension. Let the body become calm, receptive, and responsive. ## 2. The Mind Is HappyApproach everything with curiosity, equanimity, and optimism.
The mind is constantly interpreting reality. It assigns meaning, anticipates outcomes, and creates stories about what happens to us. We may not control what life presents, but we can cultivate how our minds receive it. Curiosity replaces premature judgment with exploration. Equanimity allows us to experience success and failure without becoming prisoners of either. Optimism trains us to recognize possibilities and discover something valuable even in difficult circumstances. A happy mind does not mean a mind that never experiences sadness, anger, or fear. It means a mind that does not surrender its fundamental openness to life. Experience everything. Remain curious. Look for the good. ## 3. The Soul Is DirectedKeep your consciousness continuously oriented Godward.
The body engages with the physical world. The mind interprets our experiences. But the soul has a different purpose: to remain directed toward its source, God the Father. This is the essence of [*Kavanah*](/articles/kavanah-the-godward-meditation/), the practice of intentional, continuous orientation toward God. We do not need to imagine God, construct a mental representation, or manufacture a spiritual experience. We simply remain inwardly directed toward the Father, beyond our thoughts, emotions, and understanding. Life continues to unfold. Thoughts arise. Emotions intensify. Desires pull us in different directions. We catch these movements in consciousness and offer them Godward without losing our orientation. The soul does not need to escape life. It needs to remain directed while living it. ## The Manual for Living We spend much of our lives searching for instructions. How should we respond to uncertainty? How should we handle suffering? What should we do when things go wrong? How do we know whether we are living correctly? Perhaps the manual is simpler than we imagined.Let the body be relaxed, so we do not carry unnecessary resistance.
Let the mind be happy, so we remain open to the possibilities of existence.
Let the soul be directed, so we never lose sight of our ultimate purpose.
These three principles work together, simultaneously, throughout our lives. We do not need to predict the future, understand every experience, or control every outcome. We simply need to remember how to operate the extraordinary human existence we have been given.Body relaxed. Mind happy. Soul Godward.
That is the manual. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the human operating system? The human operating system is a simple manual for living built on three principles: relax the body, keep the mind happy, and direct the soul Godward. The body remains in a state of deep relaxation, the mind approaches life with curiosity, equanimity, and optimism, and the soul remains continuously oriented toward God the Father. ### What are the three principles of the human operating system? 1. The body is relaxed: live in a state of relaxed alertness, almost like a waking hypnotic state. 2. The mind is happy: approach everything with curiosity, equanimity, and optimism. 3. The soul is directed: keep your consciousness continuously oriented Godward. In short: body relaxed, mind happy, soul Godward. ### What does it mean to keep the body relaxed? It means releasing unnecessary tension whatever is happening around you. Tension is not strength, and relaxation is not weakness. A relaxed body can work, compete, struggle, and act decisively while remaining physically at ease: calm, receptive, and responsive. ### Does a happy mind mean never feeling sadness, anger, or fear? No. A happy mind does not mean a mind that never experiences sadness, anger, or fear. It means a mind that does not surrender its fundamental openness to life. Curiosity replaces premature judgment with exploration, equanimity lets us experience success and failure without becoming prisoners of either, and optimism trains us to recognize possibilities even in difficult circumstances. ### What does it mean to direct the soul Godward? It means keeping consciousness continuously oriented toward its source, God the Father. This is the essence of Kavanah, the practice of intentional, continuous orientation toward God. When thoughts, emotions, and desires arise, we catch these movements in consciousness and offer them Godward without losing our orientation. ### Do I need to imagine or visualize God to practice this? No. We do not need to imagine God, construct a mental representation, or manufacture a spiritual experience. We simply remain inwardly directed toward the Father, beyond our thoughts, emotions, and understanding. ### How do the three principles work together? They work together, simultaneously, throughout our lives. Let the body be relaxed, so we do not carry unnecessary resistance. Let the mind be happy, so we remain open to the possibilities of existence. Let the soul be directed, so we never lose sight of our ultimate purpose. We do not need to predict the future, understand every experience, or control every outcome.