It would seem that we as a Human Family are on the brink of an epiphany: That we are really One, that caring is more powerful than hurting, and that the smallest act of kindness can make a difference not only in a person’s life, but indeed the entire fabric of Humankind.
After a rash of youth suicides attributed to bullying over the past few months, there has been an outpouring of support and encouragement from nonprofit organizations, religious and humanitarian groups, and most notably thousands of personal messages through the “It Gets Better Project” from LGBTQ and straight people alike assuring those who might be in a challenging time of their life that a better experience awaits them.
Now, there is a wonderful project that just showed up on Facebook on Dec 1st called “7 Days of Love is Louder.”
To summarize, this is a simple outline for 7 days of expressing appreciation and gratitude and taking action of being good to ourselves and reaching out to others.
Grandmother Parisha, my spiritual mentor and Elder, is constantly reinforcing to those of us who have studied and worked with her that pain and hardship is a choice we make through how we view our experiences and create our “self-talk.”
By focusing on gratitude, we feed our faith and our strength to handle whatever might come our way. There are no stumbling blocks, there are only stepping stones.
To some that may seem simplistic, yet I come from a background of addiction recovery, where “Keeping it Simple” can be a real survival skill in life. It can make the difference between success and failure especially during the initial stage of getting free and clear of toxicants – where the “rubber meets the road.”
People guiding my early days of recovery told me to make a gratitude list. For every pain or fear or negative thought I could come up with – I had to find the “gift” in it. It wasn’t easy at first, but after a while I got the hang of it. Today it has become second nature – when I choose to exercise that simple wisdom.
Grandmother Parisha, along with other great mentors, teaches that, We Are What We Think. We Create our Experience – Our Reality, if you will. Some look at the world today and see “the brink of destruction.” Others form service organizations or special relief missions or campaigns; millionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett created the “Giving Pledge” to encourage philanthropy; average citizens, celebrities and political leaders worldwide have joined in to let our youth know “It Gets Better” in an outpouring of love and encouragement that brings tears to my eyes every time I view one of the thousands of powerful messages!
There are tremendous Expressions and Acts of Love and Caring happening every day all over the world. It’s growing exponentially!
Another Principle that Grandmother Parisha has shared over the years is the power of Critical Mass. MSN Encarta Dictionary defines “critical mass” as the “point of change: a point or situation at which change occurs.” (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861688572/critical_mass.html)
Typically the example of achieving Critical Mass is that one-by-one-by-one individuals can effect change. When enough individuals join together in a common action or thought, change occurs. Here’s the good news: “Critical Mass” by scientific definition is achieved at 51%. That’s the point where the “scale tips” in the other direction.
We’re gaining momentum and moving toward a Human Evolution (or Revolution, if you will!). Grandmother Parisha is quoted as saying, “The world will not end. It will be transformed.” We are being transformed by the actions we are taking today.
So get on board! Take part in “7 Days of Love is Louder” – share it with your friends, family and co-workers. Share it with strangers!
We are making a difference for Humankind today. Join the movement!
Amplify.
Reach Out.
Appreciate.
Give.
Love.
Speak Up.
Celebrate.
♥
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