From dust to dust. That’s what we came from. That’s what we’ll return to. And what matters most is how we spend the time we have in between.
I remember when this summer ushered in a lot of chatter about the 2020 elections. People started building bridges and making up their minds about who’s a racist, a homophobe, and unconcerned with the problems of the world. As most things about life, our beliefs are also not so black or white. Also, in most cases, most people have contradictory belief systems.
I don’t write about politics, so this won’t be about politics necessarily. But, as with most things that bring people closer together or divide us, what I want to challenge is how you will continue to live in a world where people will believe different things than you, have convictions that are deeply ingrained into their psyches from generations past, and still be able to communicate and work alongside those differences with patience, maybe intrigue, and love.
When racial uprisings flared earlier this year following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others, people chose sides. I spent countless hours talking to the press about “what people should do” to quell their anger and anxiety. Well, not a lot has changed since then. People still feel passionate about their ideations, and whose side one should be on, and how intrinsically oppressive this society is. However, I believe that this present time gives us a lot to work with, if we choose.
For me, this time is not much different than previous times, with the exception that more people now have digital platforms to express themselves.
What I offer to you, and anyone else who seeks advice from me is this: work on yourself every day. Do something constructive to educate yourself on your history, and other people’s history, and seek truth at all costs. Think, listen and reflect more often than you react or speak. Be willing to contemplate alternate perspectives and come to your own conclusions, with flexibility in your thinking. If we pause first and attune to why we’re judging we may find that we have more understanding about who we are, versus who someone else is. That, to me, is one of the best contributions we can make to society. My mantra today is, I am committed to healing myself. As I heal, I make the world more tolerable and loving to live in.
What are your beliefs saying about you right now?
*This blog is about becoming free. It’s a reflection of introspective thoughts and experiences that have crossed miles of self-discovery. I created this blog to inspire others to live life with less self-criticism, judgment and openness to new experiences. May you find that you learn how to live a life by design and on your own terms!*