Every single day as we go through life, we all face negative situations. When we have poor reactions to these situations we let a lot of negative emotions into our mind, body, and soul. Over time, these accumulated negative emotions begin to show up as disease (meaning dis-ease) in our bodies. We begin our rounds to the doctor’s office and expect modern medicine to do miracles for us.
We stand tall and blame anyone and everyone for our problems, the people, the circumstances, destiny and life itself. We spend countless hours criticizing people who we think are judgmental, rude, impatient, angry, and down right inconsiderate.
It is so easy to proclaim that other individuals, societies, cultures, and the whole world is wrong and needs to change. And mind you, we are not wrong in making this proclamation. Indeed, the world does need to change. It needs to become more tolerant, kind, loving, patient, and compassionate.
But we, my friends, overlook one small part in this equation. We forget that we are also a part of this society, culture, and world. Therefore, we too are a part of this problem.
In fact, the very solution to this problem lies in the realization by each and everyone of us that we are part of the problem. Just imagine, if all of us chose to focus on the “I” that’s part of the “we.” Imagine if rather than focusing on others, each one of us focused on our own behaviours. Imagine if as Mahatma Gandhi said, we became “the change we want to see in the world.” Just imagine!
Back in May, I had the opportunity to be a panelist on Kaur Conversations (a community initiative by the Kaur Project). I had the honour of sitting next to two amazing women. One of them had been ridiculed for not being able to bear a child and the other for being obese. The judgment came not only from society but also from those closest to them. As these women struggled to face their challenges, they were made to feel small and shameful for the way God had created them. That to me is humanity at its worst.
I don’t think these are rare occurrences though. In fact, we all have a tendency to judge that which in our opinion is not “normal.” We forget to acknowledge that behind every physical being there is a soul trying to do their best with the given circumstances and wanting nothing but acceptance and love. We are all unique in our ways yet we all seek the same thing. That same thing is love and validation. We all want it but do we all give it?
So, instead of being a part of the problem, let us consciously choose to be a part of the solution. Let us turn our focus inward and set goals for ourselves to be kind, understanding, gentle, and compassionate. Let us catch ourselves each time we are rude, inconsiderate, arrogant, intolerant, judgemental, angry, or indifferent. Let us be the calm in the storm.
If we become the change we want to see in the world, imagine the change that would come about.
Let us choose to be that change…
Devinder 💖
Leave a Reply