Staying so chipper in the gloom and doom

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Richcreek on February 20, 2009 at 3:41pm

This may sound sick, but I try to ignore suffering and ickiness. I TRY to only focus on the positive. If people focus on what's wrong with the world, we are only perpetuaing the problems and negativity. Thinking or looking at things in a positive light reinforces the good. I try to practice stamping out negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. I want to get to a point where I don't have to practice anymore - it will happen automatically.

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Permalink Reply by Shannon Gross on February 20, 2009 at 9:24pm

Excellent question, girlfriend! I'm with Sarah - I focus on the fact that there is way more positive in the world than negative. As Jill Bolte Taylor said, she checks in with her body and notices that only one part is complaining (part of her mind). The rest of her body, she noted her big toe, is perfectly happy. :)

Oh, and I also start Smaller Indiana groups focused on the sunny side of life. :)

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Permalink Reply by Jeren Touch-Werner on February 21, 2009 at 12:13am

I watched interesting video on you tube of Nassim Haramein, who since childhood had this affinity - seeing everything consisting of fractals - dots that take you to infinity. People are made of black holes, he says, not just the Universe. So am I, since childhood Infinity was my biggest friend. And when I feel like a black hole, my first choice most often to sit down and sing for a long time, something from the sacred texts, so that the emptiness inside me gets nurtured by the sound of my caring soul. Second choice is do nothing - and just give it space. Third choice - find the way to serve.

Although I live in USA 13 years, I do feel sometimes that I am cut short of people who I could just pick up a phone and call. This was totally different back in Turkmenistan. Sometimes I wonder if it is because I don't have people here who I grew up with.

So, for short, when I look around I see Infinity. And having to grow up on half-Russian Literature and Culture, I actually know that suffering is a potential for great shifts and embroidered into life blessings.

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Bosch on February 21, 2009 at 7:08pm

I do not believe that everything around me is suffering and ickiness, I believe that we make our own way in this world. We choose our attitude and how we will respond to others. Everyone needs a smile, it may be the only one they get today, but by golly it will be from me to them. I am not a polly anna, but I choose to find the good in the world as much as possible.

One exception is politics, but even that I can choose to engage in, I still have the right to turn nonsense off.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Towle on March 3, 2009 at 10:02pm

It makes me feel good that I can help friends - by sharing dessert and coffee or introducing them to helpful contacts. Or just saying ' Hi - just thinking about you!".....and not watching too much CNN :) Blessings to all!

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