Queen

Queen
Showing posts with label helping others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helping others. Show all posts

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Make Way for a Positive Day

Holidays always make me think of the lonely, poor, and downtrodden. It may sound dark, but all of the excess, the gifts, the food, the decorations, makes me wonder what people who have no family or friends, or who can't afford the overpriced goods are doing. I know for some, it's difficult to watch all of the good cheer when life is so challenging for them. Staying positive in the face of trials can seem impossible, but this is exactly when we need to kick the positive vibrations up a few notches.

Think of the universe as the ocean. There are waves coming in and out, up and down. Some waves are surf able, some are barely noticeable ripples. But waves have crests (peaks) and valleys, and they keep moving. But what causes waves? Wind. The size of the wave depends on the velocity of the wind. Think of our energy as the wind. Positive energy is like increased wind speed. So the more positive your energy, the bigger your crest will be. When we're in the valleys of life, we just need to increase our positivity to get out. I know some of you think this is a bunch of new age nonsense, but it's just a metaphor for something I have found to be true.

How does one increase positivity when everything seems to be going wrong? You've heard it before, gratitude. I think when most people hear this, they think, I'm thankful for what I have, but I'm not more positive. If you take the time to actually sit and make a list of everything for which you have to be grateful, even the barely noticeable ripples, you'd be surprised how quickly a smile will appear on your face. For instance, if I just look at a picture of my nephew, it brings me joy. I think of the fun times we have together and the sweet and precocious things he says, and I'm almost laughing! The process of listing every little thing, makes us really think about all of the good and positive things and people in our lives.

Taking time to do things that make us feel good or bring us joy is a must. As you know, music does that for me. Music is so powerful it's mystical. It increases brain function, it causes the body to move (at least for me), and it can often change your mood, thoughts, and outlook. There are even certain tones that can change brainwaves! Music is a gift, it definitely goes on my list. Writing also helps me. I may not be the best writer, but I tend to express myself better in writing, and it helps me change negative energy into positive. When I write this blog, I try my best to be positive, so it forces me to find a positive way to express whatever negative thoughts I may be having. Writing, then, becomes therapy.

One of the biggest ways to gain positivity is to take the focus off of ourselves, and put it on others. When you realize there are those much worse off than you all around the world, you should be grateful. Once you decide to try to help make life even the tiniest bit better for someone else, positive energy returns because you are fulfilling your purpose here on earth, to serve your brothers and sisters. Have I told you before that we're all connected? Helping others, then, is helping yourself. I encourage everyone to remember the lonely, poor, and downtrodden, everyday, but especially during the holidays, even if you are one of them yourself. We're in this together. Love, light, and positive energy.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Sowing Good Seed

Once while in a youth development training, I read a story about a farmer who always produced prize winning corn. His corn was plentiful, plump, and sweet. People always marvelled over his award winning crop and often asked how he did it. He would always respond by giving them some of his corn seeds. Upon receiving the seeds, his neighbors would ask, "how can you give your prize winning seeds away?" The farmer would reply, "My seed is good seed. If my neighbors also have good seed, when their crop pollinates, it won't corrupt my crop." I read this story many years ago, yet it stills resonates in my head today. If one shares his good seed, it benefits him. You will reap what you sow. This is not just a quote from the bible or something my grandmother used to tell me. I have seen it and experienced it with my own eyes. I have seen those who have treated me badly receive the same treatment from someone else. I have also seen those who have done good for me receive good as well.

Having had these experiences, I am often baffled by those who live only for themselves. All around me I see people hustling to benefit only themselves, blocking others efforts to give, not caring about all of us to whom they are connected. In ten years of working in non profits, I have noticed that some, because there isn't much money to be made for most, engage in power struggles in an effort to attain a certain status and name for themselves within the industry. This wouldn't bother me if their efforts towards notoriety didn't impede my efforts towards helping youth. If they only knew that if they actually helped people good things would come to them.

There is a pervasive "What's in it for me" attitude in the world today. If we only help or give with the expectation of receiving something other than a good feeling in return, a lot of us would be helpless. If you think that what happens to someone halfway around the world doesn't affect you, look at it from a different perspective. Just look at the stock market or the implications of the US defaulting on its debt. We've seen gas prices rise over crisis in the middle east, or oil spills. After the earthquakeke and tsunami in Japan destroyed their nuclear energy plant, there were concerns around the world about radiation wafting in their direction. Everything that happens to each of us around the world sends out radiation, or pollinates good or bad seed.

So those of you out there who have a product, service, or art you promote, try giving support in some way to others and see how business picks up. Help someone in hopes that if you need help one day, that good you do will come back to you. If it takes getting something in return in order for you to help others, the story of the farmer with the prize winning corn should show you that you will. At the very least, don't impede someone else's efforts to help others. They are spreading good seed for you because when good seed pollinates, every farmer benefits. Love and light.



Text NOHUNGER to 20222 to donate $10 towards helping with the famine in Africa