Have you ever heard this? I am sure many have, even if nothing more than its basic concept? In other words maybe we say it differently, or certain cultures may even have a single word for it for ex.? But would it be any surprise if we discovered the meaning itself is probably pretty universal?
What is the simple idea that happiness comes in small packages? What are the types of things we are experiencing or remembering, when this idea just seems to fit? (more…)
Can forgiveness be blamed for what it wants to do? Is it wrong for its wanting to be itself? In a time when being yourself or following our bliss might even seem cliché to some. Yet who can deny feeling like forgiveness might ask a lot on some days, right?
Like a heavy weight can the burden seem, especially when it is something about ourselves. Hidden behind clouds of guilt and shame, what a difference it can make though, a sunrise of forgiveness at times right? And can forgiveness be blamed for wanting to do its role completely in us? (more…)
I recently read a subscription journal by a long time mentor and friend of mine.
“Guilt is a resistance to the acceptance of risk an fear … Next time you do something that you feel guilty about, ask yourself the question, “If I were completely found out about this (whatever the action that occasions the guilt) and everyone in the world were completely supportive of me, with no blame, would I then feel guilty?” In asking this question, I find that, invariably the answer is, “no.””
If guilt relies on something to be what it is, or to “work” and its need or food is condemnation for example. And then if we remove that food, what happens to the guilt? This is another way of asking a simular question in a sense, right? Where is this enemy that guilt would seem to be willing to save us from? And even if we do choose to use its means, how reliable is it really in making the pain stop, or changing things to the more harmonious? (more…)
The other day I was talking with a friend about forgiveness. I asked her why she thought forgiveness could be so hard sometimes? She said, “It depends on what it is. It’s not always hardest just to forgive the big stuff you know?”
I said “No kidding, huh!” As we talked one of the things she recalled was a dear friend of hers who had taken her own life. “The final straw was that here electricity had been shut off … it doesn’t always drive people to suicide, but small things can add up for anyone” she said.
I asked her if she thought forgiveness had no limits to its application? If you can imagine she said, “I don’t know about all that. lol!” “But it certainly doesn’t seem to be limited by the size of the problem, or even how small it is.” But one thing is sure she said, “it doesn’t seem to happen completely without our Okay.”
If the smallest of things can seem like the largest on some days, and the largest of things can seem like the smallest to some, at certain times, does size matter when it comes to forgiveness? Or is forgiveness simply glad to fulfill its role even on so-called light days? How hard does forgiveness have to work to achieve its aim? What is the heavy lifting of forgiveness when, even on some days, small things can seem the hardest to let go of?
If you have ever felt this way or even if today has been just such a day, I do not know of course? But if you do, or you have, or whatever is the thing we are doing, when we are remembering something from our past that…. aghhh could use a little forgiveness. Take heart today if you have known such problems. Uhhhh… I don’t think we are alone in this world, in this way.
What is a problem forgiveness can solve, but a problem also solved through an added awareness of grace, or added understanding perhaps?
What a magical solution by this worlds standards though really, because what does it call for from the world out there, when forgiveness is being called for in here? Change our view and the world changes with us …. go figure right? What is the end to forgiveness but the complete fulfillment of its function in us first? (more…)
If you have ever tried to consciously exorcise your right, to be free of the need to judge something, you may have found it more than a little challenging sometimes. And who can say if you relate to this, but it is as though, complete freedom, is not only NOT possible in this world … it’s simply not practical.
It is even perhaps, as if to say, we must judge. If nothing more for the practicality of it. We need to know our favorite foods, choose our friends, and try not to bookmark the entire internet on our way, right? (more…)
Where there is shine there must be light. You have been seen shining. It is too late … you have already been appreciated for being you. Maybe by a neighbor, a friend, or a loved one. At some point in time, maybe when you where not even looking, they appreciated you for something that their hands could not touch, their eyes could not see, and even though they could try to explain it to you … they probably couldn’t.
And in their simple appreciation, they gave witness to the light in you. (regardless of the apparent size of their appreciation.) Does it seem airy-fairy? Maybe it is???? But why disagree anyway, unless we are embarrassed that someone might “find out”, or we might look the fool for acknowledging a light in us that somehow wasn’t there? (more…)
There are many methods, teachings, and techniques taught all over the world on freeing the mind of judgment. It probably comes as no surprise to many, but having more than one in your tool box, is useful. If this is what you are into … fill your life with it, right?
Here is one more for the collection then. You probably already have experience with it. It’s called the “Hmmmmm……” frame. (more…)
While it may be said that judgment is a right we have and are free to exorcise it anytime. Could the same be said for our right to pass on judgment if we like?
Anyone that has tried to spend even fifteen minutes without judgment, may have wondered about this. Because seriously, if judgment is a right or a choice we can make, doesn’t it stand to reason, that the choice to not judge is equally ours to make? That is, we must have exactly the same power and strength to not judge as we do to judge. (If it is our right or even our duty to judge.) (more…)
Have you ever felt like …. “Yea, I know we’re not supposed to judge and all… but that’s just wrong. I’m sorry but… that’s just the way I see it.” etc. Thoughts or expressions like these can make it seem as though judgment were a right given us or something. Like …”Hey! It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.” (or judge, whichever the case may be. After all this is our own little private party isn’t it?) Our thoughts seem separate from others and the mind becomes our private realm, where we are free to do as we like. (or so it seems at the very least.) (more…)
Matthew Reva
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