Officially deleting and keeping my distance from negative people with negative energies, and making room for more peaceful, positive and uplifting friends. I’ve wasted too much time around people who were negative, who tried to make me miserable, who brought nothing but criticism and wrath into my life, but had the audacity to call themselves my “Friend” or “Lover.” The time for negativity is over, and now is the the time for a new beginning.
There’s nothing to be gained by being rude. Yet there’s a great deal of benefit in being kind and respectful. If someone has been rude or hurtful to you, it’s natural to feel like being rude and hurtful in return. It’s natural and understandable, but not at all beneficial for anyone. Rudeness projects weakness and insecurity, while kindness and respect impart confidence and strength. Which qualities would you prefer to communicate to others? The powerful choice is the choice to be genuinely respectful and authentically kind. The way to move forward is to move beyond petty negativity and one-upmanship. Though your kindness will not always be returned, it will certainly be noticed. And even if it’s not appreciated by anyone else, your kindness will always inject more positive value into your own life. What you give, comes back to you, in ways that are impossible to foresee. Give your kindness as often as you can, and benefit from the more positive world you are helping to create.
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| — | Ralph Marston |
As I get older…
I realize that I really shouldn’t get worked up over little things. Life is too short to be constantly frustrated with things that life throws at you. You may have a thousand opportunities to get offended every day, but that doesn’t mean you have to take them. Most of the time, people’s ideas about the world are really just a reflection of who they are. So at the end of the day, what does it really matter? As long as you’re doing your best to be kind to people.
So if something bothers me, I’m not going to be so quick to snap at anyone. I think I’ve finally found what growing up is all about; being able to maintain a calm, healthy attitude, especially when in conflict.
One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, and compassion.
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| — | Pearl Bailey |
Taking Offense: Egocentrism
Some people are rude just to be rude. No other reason. It’s sad really.
I think the first and hardest step is learning not to respond. If someone is clearly trying to instigate a situation or is just being rude for the sake of being rude, then it is best not to respond. In any case it is best to not respond, but to keep peace of mind and maintain a sense of compassion is, of course, difficult at times. Why? It is because of the Ego.
We only ever get offended when we hold on to the concept of “self,” maintaining our own egocentrism. If it weren’t for this, would be ever really become offended? If we regarded ourselves as part of a whole and part of something greater, there is no room for the ego, for this false concept of individuality, for the false concept of “Self.” The greater the threat to our Egocentrism, the greater offense we take.
Only the Ego creates the concept of “Self.” The belief that we belong to ourselves is ignorant and is derived from the ego. We belong to the vastness, to the universe, to each other, and ultimately to God.
When we understand the true reality of the nature of our being, there is no room to take offense.
I’ve always been suspicious of people who don’t make Peace their number one priority. Peace of Mind, Peace in interactions, and ultimately, Peace on a universal level.
It’s really upsetting to think about sometimes.
I feel God in every part of my life, and I truly know God in my heart. And there is nothing more sad to me than hearing about how others have not opened themselves to God.
The universe is vast, unimaginable, and glorious beyond the mind’s comprehension. There are many things our physical minds will never understand. But I will say that just because you cant physically see something with your eyes, it doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
I don’t believe in pushing my beliefs on anyone, just as I don’t believe in others pushing their beliefs on me. And I find it really sad that religion often times causes people to shy away from God, because people want to be radical nonconformists.
By loving and giving our lives to God, we are not worshiping a being that is separate from us. We are all created with a part of God, and it is about knowing, understanding, and embracing that place in all of us that is God.
It’s really important to be kind. If you are arguing with someone, whether the other person is right or wrong, it’s really important to remain civil. It is especially important to be able to humbly admit when you know you are wrong about something. Everyone comes from a place of wanting to be heard, understood, and ultimately, loved. If we can understand and internalize this realization of others realities, it becomes a lot easier to keep peace of mind, especially when in an argument. I don’t believe that people who cannot maintain decent composure during an argument are weak. Rather, I feel that they have not obtained peace of mind, which is a crucial step in our spiritual growth process. But what I truly understand about the way people treat others, is that they treat others the way they feel they have been treated. If a person has a hostile disposition toward others, it is because they feel they have been treated this way.
- People are treated a certain way.
- People internalize this, and learn a system for how to treat others.
- Disregarding the consequences, a person treats others this way.
Take a moment to think about how sad this really is. Compassion for others is crucial, because on some level, we all suffer. But truly, meditation is key. Because through internalizing everything in this material world, we lose ourselves in a constant state of suffering. We need to detach ourselves from a state of mind that society only aimed to instill in us, and return to our natural state of being through meditation.
Only here, are we free of suffering.
Only here, do we attain Peace.
Love is the Answer
I wish I could say sorry to every person I have ever hurt, and heal every heart I have broken. Sometimes I shed tears thinking about things I have said that have hurt people, and wish I could take it all back. It’s emotional to think about.. I’m ready to stop all this nonsense.. and just Love.
If this were the last day of your life, would you be happy about the life you’ve led? About the things you’ve said? The impact you’ve made on others lives? What would you leave to this world in your memory? Did you merely live for your own existence? Did you hurt people? Have you apologized? Have you let all the people you love know that you care about them? Something to reflect upon. These are the important questions.
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| — | A-place-to-stand |
