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“What a man thinketh,
that is he; this is the eternal mystery... Man becomes that of which he
thinks.”
--Upanishads
(c. B.C. 800)
Hindu Poetic Dialogues
on Metaphysics
If our
thoughts are negative, our lives become negative. If our thoughts are
positive, our lives become fruitful. I’ve been thinking a lot about
positives and negatives this week.
Unfortunately,
negativity is contagious. It will spread through a room on the tail of a
rumor in seconds flat. This happens because so many of us have a
negativity habit.
The upside
of it all is . . . positive outlooks can also be contagious. A smile is
most often returned by a smile, and laughter can spread like a rumor. I
like people who are prone to smile and laugh easily. They make me feel
better about life and living, and make life brighter. They make life
fun.
Michelle
Yatauro,
the newest member of council, makes me smile. Skeptics and hometown
conservatives may wonder about her fashion style or her sense of flair,
but I say that someone who dances in the street with the
Heartwood
performers can’t be bad. Besides, I like someone who enjoys life.
Michelle
smiles, and is quick to laugh. It pleases me to think that these
characteristics will now be joining us on a regular basis at council
meetings. In my mind, this can’t be a bad thing.
At the same
time, I also reflected this week on negative minds, on those who spread
their negative thoughts and prejudices around them like thick
dust--making life dingy and gray. I wonder what thoughts pass through
the minds of those who harass neighbors, call people names, or have only
doubts and no hopes for the future. I think of those who believe God is
a God of punishment, and not of love. Of those who have such heavy and
cold hearts.
How sad they must be.
How eaten by anger. How unfortunate that their misery is spread to
others around them in their lives.
We have the
power to overcome this.
In a recent
behavioral study, scientists discovered that if they spent ten minutes
talking to people about old age, sickness, and poor health, the people
would leave the discussion walking slower, with poor posture and tender
footing. If, however, they talked to people about flowers and sunshine
and sunlight and life, the people were more tolerant waiting in line,
dealing with difficult situations, and just dealt with life with a more
pleasant outlook.
Why do we
allow the words and behaviors of negative people affect us physically?
Why would we tolerate the negative thoughts of others which literally
make us physically ill, less productive, and more susceptible to
emotional burdens?
At the same time, are
your words and actions breeding physical sickness in others? Do
conversations with you make people feel light or heavy? If you are
constantly negative, doubting, being dramatic, sharing the supposed
downfalls of others--how do you feel knowing you are literally making
people sick? If there is an epidemic in this nation, it is an epidemic
of negativity.
Why do we
let the doubts of others keep us from happiness, health and success--as
individuals or as a community? Why let our own doubts lead us to failure
again and again? Why do we allow this?
Do not allow it. All it
takes is a little faith in your heart in the goodness of life and
living. Do not allow the negative words and behaviors overcome your
feelings of light. A small light can eliminate darkness. It can happen.
All it takes to balance a negative speaker is a positive one. All it
takes to keep a negative thought from affecting you is a positive
thought.
We are what
we think. Upanishads said it in 800 B.C., and bright scientists say so
now. It is a scientific fact.
Not all news is good
news, but there’s no need to let bad news lead us astray. Don’t allow
the negatives of life force you to focus on burdens and blockades.
We may not
always be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but don’t let
anyone tell you it’s not there.
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