The Black Eyed Peas had it right….
People killin' people dyin' Children hurtin', I hear them cryin' Can you practice what you preachin'? Would you turn the other cheek again? Mama, mama, mama, tell us what the hell is goin' on Can't we all just get along? Father, father, father help us Send some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me Questioning (Where's the love)
Yo what's going on with the world, momma (Where's the love) Yo people living like they ain't got no mommas (Where's the love) I think they all distracted by the drama and Attracted to the trauma, mamma (Where's the love) I think they don't understand the concept or The meaning of karma (Where's the love)
Overseas, yeah they trying to stop terrorism (Where's the love) Over here on the streets the police shoot The people put the bullets in 'em (Where's the love)
But if you only got love for your own race (Where's the love) Then you're gonna leave space for others to discriminate (Where's the love)
And to discriminate only generates hate And when you hate then you're bound to get irate Madness is what you demonstrate And that's exactly how hate works and operates Man, we gotta set it straight Take control of your mind and just meditate And let your soul just gravitate To the love, so the whole world celebrate it
Our world is wounded, perhaps broken. But it can be fixed. However, the solution will not be found in the upcoming election, with a vaccine for COVID-19, or from another stimulus package to help those suffering. Yes, they may assist in healing the pain, but they are merely Band-Aids, temporary fixes.
Humanity is at a critical point… we can continue playing “Whack a Mole” with all of the ills that surround us - senselessly trying to fix things which have no simple solutions - or we can search deeper and address the root cause of our overwhelming problems. It’s not the virus, racism, pollution, or poverty that is slowly killing this planet. These are merely symptoms. The crisis in our world are not new. For centuries humans have dealt with plagues, corruption, terrorism, and hatred. War has been a constant. So has famine and abuse. But these are not the reasons for our current situation, they are merely the results from a society that’s been missing the point since forever.
We’ve forgotten the power of love.
No longer do we love ourselves, our neighbors, strangers, or those who think differently than we do. Instead, we’ve given our power to fear and anger. And by doing so, we’re only generating hate, becoming irate, demonstrating madness.
Maybe you think that I’m naïve, have my head in the sand, or am just plain stupid. Perhaps, yet I believe that there is a better way, one which we can all follow. And it’s really quite simple.
It all begins within.
Before we are capable of loving another, we must first learn to love ourself. I’m not talking about admiring our appearance, accomplishments, or status. This is much deeper – it’s unconditional acceptance of who we are – the good, the bad, and the ugly – without self-deprecating remarks, comparisons, or judgment. This is extremely difficult as it requires observing our shadows as well as our light. But it is necessary because if we pretend those sides of us do not exist (that’s why they are called shadows), we only fool ourselves, denying the parts of our being that desperately need healing.
When we love ourself, then we can truly love others.
Learning to embrace who we are without self-criticism or harsh judgment puts us in a position to extend that love to others – those near and dear to us as well as those who seem so unlike us. Loving another does not mean agreeing to all of their decisions and actions. Instead, it's accepting that human being for who she or he is, avoiding both criticism and the urge to “fix” characteristics that do not resonate with you. As Byron Katie says, “There are only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours, and God’s.” So, if it is not our business, we should stay out of it. Sounds simple, but it’s quite challenging. In fact, this is often what keeps us from unconditionally loving others. We try to change who they are so that they fit into our scheme of what we think that should be. But is that our right? Is that love?
How does this work globally? How can I love another who views the world so differently than I do?
While it seems incomprehensible that certain individuals in our world could be “lovable,” a wise friend shared this practice during a retreat. It’s proven to be a successful tool to help reconcile my struggle with several people.
“Just like me, ____________ loves his/her children, spouse, parents.”
“Just like me, ____________ has felt pain.”
“Just like me, ____________ wants to feel safe.”
“Just like me, ____________ needs to be loved.”
You can create endless scenarios for this exercise. The point is that while we appear so different from some people, we are all linked in some way. We may not understand, respect, or tolerate another’s actions, but if we take a moment to pause and realize the humanity in each of us, we will see that there is a common thread. Yet it requires an open heart for us to observe the connection.
Consider a world where we each chose to Take control of your mind and just meditate - And let your soul just gravitate - To the love, so the whole world celebrate it, then maybe we have a chance to find the love that is so desperately missed in today's culture.
The next few weeks will be filled with drama and trauma… don’t give power to the negativity. Staying in the muck only invites in more darkness. Instead, be the light… lead by example… discard judgment, criticism, anger, and hate. Adopt a new way of being. Commit to loving and accepting yourself. Shine. Elevate. Then bring others along with you. We don’t need the entire world to do this… we only require some brave souls willing to lead the way.
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