Deaths, abuse, shootings, natural disasters, fiscal cliffs, protests that get out of hand — when tragedy happens, it’s all over the news, making it a popular topic of conversation throughout the U.S. for weeks. Who knows how many hours are spent debating these topics? What percentage of these hours actually lead to any sort of conclusion or benefit?
The horrific event last year that created great controversy over gun control laws left many people frustrated, upset, and some even downright angry at others for having differing opinions. Interestingly, it ultimately boosted gun sales. This is a prime example of the law of attraction: What we focus on becomes more prominent.
Focusing on negativity causes stress which, according to the National Institute of Health, can cause digestive problems, headaches, sleeplessness, depression, anger and irritability. It may even lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, and other illnesses.
It doesn’t stop there. When people are stressed, they tend to bring other people down with their negative energy, thereby multiplying bad feelings and disease.
We must be careful not to let things weigh us down, but to look for ways to balance, or better yet, outweigh the bad with good. The positive side of stress is that it can motivate people to become catalysts for change. The important thing is to focus on the positive changes that can happen, not the problems.
Discussions should commence with an intention to come to an understanding or somehow help a situation. Listening to try to understand, and speaking to inform, rather than argue, can lead to profound ideas that can create beneficial outcomes.
If you feel like you’re unable to help with the latest issue that’s being reported, then use your time and energy to do something else that’s helpful. As Lucy Larcom stated, “If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.”
We can’t fix everything we feel is wrong with the world, and that’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m recommending that we pay attention to the words of John Wooden who said, “Do not let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do.” Mother Teresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” And Betty Reese, “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
Even as a personal trainer, I agree with the poet John Andrew Holmes who said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
It’s well documented that people who volunteer live healthier, happier lives. This may make it seem as though you need to become a Scout leader, or work at the Humane Society for those benefits. Although these are great ideas, it is not necessary. We can serve others in our everyday activities: Look for the good in the world and remind people of it; have long discussions about the good that you see; send prayers or good thoughts to people, communities, earth; tell a friend specifically why you enjoy their com-pany; tell a family member why you appreciate them; bring someone a flower; donate to a charity, even if you can only afford something small; give blood.
If you hear someone say something nice about another person, let that person know they were talked about in a positive way. Remember that “The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well being,” the Dalai Lama said.
Good news is everywhere. It may not always be reported, but we can find it if we look. If you’re not seeing it, create it. Make it happen. As Mahamat Gandhi says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Ultimately, it all starts with the self.
The horrific event last year that created great controversy over gun control laws left many people frustrated, upset, and some even downright angry at others for having differing opinions. Interestingly, it ultimately boosted gun sales. This is a prime example of the law of attraction: What we focus on becomes more prominent.
Focusing on negativity causes stress which, according to the National Institute of Health, can cause digestive problems, headaches, sleeplessness, depression, anger and irritability. It may even lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, and other illnesses.
It doesn’t stop there. When people are stressed, they tend to bring other people down with their negative energy, thereby multiplying bad feelings and disease.
We must be careful not to let things weigh us down, but to look for ways to balance, or better yet, outweigh the bad with good. The positive side of stress is that it can motivate people to become catalysts for change. The important thing is to focus on the positive changes that can happen, not the problems.
Discussions should commence with an intention to come to an understanding or somehow help a situation. Listening to try to understand, and speaking to inform, rather than argue, can lead to profound ideas that can create beneficial outcomes.
If you feel like you’re unable to help with the latest issue that’s being reported, then use your time and energy to do something else that’s helpful. As Lucy Larcom stated, “If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.”
We can’t fix everything we feel is wrong with the world, and that’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m recommending that we pay attention to the words of John Wooden who said, “Do not let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do.” Mother Teresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” And Betty Reese, “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
Even as a personal trainer, I agree with the poet John Andrew Holmes who said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
It’s well documented that people who volunteer live healthier, happier lives. This may make it seem as though you need to become a Scout leader, or work at the Humane Society for those benefits. Although these are great ideas, it is not necessary. We can serve others in our everyday activities: Look for the good in the world and remind people of it; have long discussions about the good that you see; send prayers or good thoughts to people, communities, earth; tell a friend specifically why you enjoy their com-pany; tell a family member why you appreciate them; bring someone a flower; donate to a charity, even if you can only afford something small; give blood.
If you hear someone say something nice about another person, let that person know they were talked about in a positive way. Remember that “The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well being,” the Dalai Lama said.
Good news is everywhere. It may not always be reported, but we can find it if we look. If you’re not seeing it, create it. Make it happen. As Mahamat Gandhi says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Ultimately, it all starts with the self.
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