|
If you feel helpless in the wake of violence, this blogger suggests how to respond.
By now everyone is familiar with the recent tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech .
Response to the news differs. Maybe it kicked you in the gut. Sadness. Frustration. Anger. Prayer. For others, you may be so used to horrifying news and events that you have become desensitized when something like this happens.
Whatever your response, you can't help but feel helpless. I did. Seeing the news for the first time made me feel small and insignificant. What am I doing? How am I helping? How do I respond?
So, how do you respond? How do you move forward? What do you do?
The more I have thought about this today the more I realize there is plenty that you and I can do.
It's not about what you do or where you live - it's about WHO you are - and HOW you are showing up in life.
Maybe that sounds vague, so let me explain.
We are all capable of big things! No matter who you are - you have an immediate impact on the people around you and the community you live in. Every choice that you make and every action you take has influence on EVERYONE.
EVERYONE!
That might feel far-fetched, but it's not. We get so caught up in looking at life based on the results we can see - but never stop to contemplate the influence we have on the unseen. Everyday, you influence everyone you come into contact with, as well as many you never meet. When you CHOOSE to live your life to your highest potential - you raise humanity!
Yes - you raise humanity by the choices you make!
When you live life at your highest potential, you bring out the best in yourself as well as everyone around you. You become an example of greatness, compassion, grace, and peace - and become a force of positive energy into the world. Your one single action raises humanity.
I went to Science and Health for comfort and inspiration, and I found this passage hat supports from Mary Baker Eddy, "The good in human affections must have ascendency over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happiness will never be won. The attainment of this celestial condition would improve our progeny, diminish crime, and give higher aims to ambition."
Now, contemplate a life where you are showing up in your fullest in everything that you do - with "higher aims to ambition." You become a constant expression of goodness and positivity. Your energy inspires others into action - and now your goodness is multiplied and reciprocated further into the world. The ripple effect of goodness is set in motion - and it never stops - it just continues to grow! Your kids see a better you - your spouse sees a better you - your friends see a better you - strangers see a better you - and you being a better you makes everyone else better.
It's your choice. What are you going to do?
There are no insignificant moments. How you treat the cashier at the grocery store has influence. The way you respond in your car has influence. How you talk to the people in your life has influence. You are a living, moving, breathing expression of influence!
Don't bury your head. Don't get lost in the day to day grind of life that you forget that although we walk around as individuals - we are all connected.
How are you doing? Can you be bigger? Can you do more? Can you strive to be a better you?
Yes you can! Is there an alternative? And if you are not striving to show up better in your life, what else are you doing?
Don't get stuck in the muck! Don't be paralyzed by the images of violence and senselessness. You can do something - and you can start right now!
There are no insignificant moments. Click here for a quick example of how striving to be better influences more than you could ever expect.
I know like many of you, my prayers continue to go out to everyone at Virginia Tech - and I expect that comfort is being felt. Go higher! Be better! The demand is on all of us to make a difference!
Read more from this blogger at Travis Inc.
|
