I see it regularly. People aiming to live a life of positivity and in the process, exuding a mass of beautiful, happy, loving energy to the world. It’s so wonderful to witness! But as soon as something crosses their experience that they perceive to be wrong, unfair, mean, evil or <insert any other negative attribute>, they are up in arms about how screwed up everything is in the world. They will feel hard done by, as though the world has given them a kick in the teeth – “where is the justice in me being such a happy, positive person and then having to deal with this!?”. They may have even watched or read “The Secret” and decided that it just doesn’t work, because after all that positive thinking, “I’m not getting what I want”! And I am here to say, there is a catch if you want to live a life of constant peace, with an abundance of joyful moments. You have to learn how to think positively, or at the very least see the alternative perspective, no matter what situation you are presented with in reality.
Being like this will take practise, and its going to feel strange at first because so many of us have been conditioned to construct the support from our friends by “rallying the troops” when we feel wronged by someone or something. Take an honest look at the communications you have with those around you – are you bitching and moaning about something that has happened in order to gain sympathy or support from others? How do you think this aligns with living a life of positivity? True empowerment comes from taking ownership of your actions AND reactions, and understanding that no matter what, you can choose to see things from a different angle and therefore, choose the reaction you have to any external situation.
Mahatma Gandi said it best:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
If you want a world where people respect each other, show loving kindness and generosity to one another, and can co-exist on this planet in harmony, then you are in the very powerful position to start creating that world by being that change you want to see. If someone does you “wrong”, then choose to find the angle of the situation that allows you the peace of mind so you can react in a loving, kind way. Faced with a life circumstance that just seems overwhelmingly unfair, then remind yourself that in every great crisis comes the greatest opportunity and look for that opportunity. Can’t see it? Then trust that the opportunity will present itself at the perfect time and work through the current situation with the inner-awareness and mindfulness of owning your reactions.
You may be saying to yourself right now “but Mandie, so and so <insert name of person who is clearly wrong in their behaviour> is just so wrong, they just shouldn’t be behaving like this” or “but Mandie, it’s just not right that I haven’t been promoted or that I’ve been retrenched when so and so <insert name of person that shouldn’t have been promoted or lost their job instead>”. And I would say: it doesn’t matter what so and so is or isn’t doing, even if it involves you. What matters is what’s happening inside of you. Are you helping create the world you want to see by reacting in the way you ultimately want others to be behaving, or have you slipped into victim mode? The power of your practise in this will fundamental change your experience in the world. I promise. The beautiful part of this practise is the more you emanate positive energy in ALL circumstances, the more circumstances that will be drawn to you that confirm your newfound positive view of the world.
Have fun exploring this new dimension of your power in the world and realise your amazing potential to help create the world exactly as you would like it to be, by BEING that change!
