Take the subject of relationships and marriage for example. We have a marriage in which a couple falls in love and gets married. We have same-sex marriage, arranged marriage, common law relationships, open relationships, or people who prefer to remain celibate. It’s just an individual choice, there’s no right or wrong. The only wrong choice would be conforming to other’s expectations and ideals. You’re in charge, and you have the right to be you. Danny G.
Love and Lust (Poem)
One man had it all,
A wife to die for,
All the money a man could ask for.
Love irreplaceable,
That any man would ask for.
It felt stale,
As if it wasn’t enough,
Always looking for excitement and fun.
Temptation and lust kept on creeping his way.
As he was confused
Which path to take.
After thinking long and hard
Before taking the leap,
On a dead-end trail.
He couldn’t withstand
What was a stake,
For a one night stand,
And a true love break.
The Optimist and the Pessimist
What difference can you make if you’re feeling resentment and anger for every poor choice you have made throughout this lifetime? Resentment and anger never uplifts. What difference can you make if you loved yourself despite your imperfections and if you knew God loved you regardless of where you currently stand? Humanity doesn’t want to listen to someone who’s constantly beaten down by life. Humanity needs encouragement and compassion. There’s enough naysayers in the world, hence, the world needs more optimistic people. The world needs more people who appreciate themselves and love God despite their imperfections. It needs people who still want to create positive change regardless of where they currently stand. Danny G.
Focus On You First
There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first, since you cannot help others if you lose your alignment. How many people lose their balance if they do everything for others and they do nothing for themselves? People often become depressed if they neglect themselves in the process of trying to help or please everyone but themselves.
We need to keep a balance and do those things which allow us to be healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. Sometimes all that’s needed is a little time to unwind doing something that relieves stress and brings joy.
Stress is the number one factor in creating disease, so wouldn’t spending time unwinding be logical to remain healthy? Exhaustion is another reason people develop health conditions. Sometimes all that’s needed is more time distracting ourselves from everyday problems. How many people can you help if you’re not in alignment? And how much assistance can you be if you’re not in alignment?
You’ve been programmed to believe that sacrificing your happiness is the correct way to live, and the noble thing to do. You’ve been programmed to believe life is about helping and pleasing everyone but you. You’ve been pressuring yourself to believe there’s only one way to live.
Think a different thought such as how many people can I help if I am in alignment? You keep your balance by being spiritually connected since you’re a spiritual being who needs to remain connected to its source.
You remain healthy and ready to tackle your problems by keeping a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, and sleep. Most important it’s by being spiritually connected through meditation or prayer, or anything that allows us to connect to ourselves on a spiritual level.
Why have we concluded the noble thing to do is sacrifice our happiness for others? I understand there is a level of sacrifice that we should do for others, however, there is also balance. I understand many people have traumatic events in their lives with their loved ones, and they need to put more time and energy for their family or friends sake. But don’t make the mistake of neglecting balance, since there is always a little bit of time we can reserve for ourselves to recharge the battery, and live more meaningfully.
We have no control over others other than the influence we give them through the clarity of our example. We can pray for them, we can teach them, but ultimately it’s their life and choices. Focus on you first and then you’ll be in a much better place to make a difference in the world and in the lives of your loved ones.
Quote for Today
Conflicts cease to exist when your desire for love and compassion is greater than your desire to be right.
Danny G.
Understanding Humanity and Uniqueness
There’s a reason for every individual behaviour. You may say to yourself, he’s just arrogant and obnoxious. He’s just a mean old man with no manners. He has no social skills whatsoever. Many of these individuals whom you call mean or rude, grew up with judgemental parents or siblings, or perhaps they were extremely belittled as a child. Maybe they were never taught otherwise, so their inappropriateness seems appropriate to them.
Their behaviour shouldn’t be condoned, and we have the right to speak up for ourselves since everyone deserves respect. But what if you didn’t have the caring parents, or mentors, or the friends you have? How would you be?
The environment we have as children and teenagers has an impact on who we become as a person. Parents, siblings, friends, neighbourhoods, and teachers, all have an impact on our upbringing and growth as a person. To deny that our environment has an impact on who we become, would be saying relationships have no power in the unfolding of our life.
Almost everywhere you go and everyone you meet has different standards of what is acceptable or not. We’re just people, and everyone is struggling with something, so why put each other on a pedestal of better or worse? Everyone’s journey starts differently and is unique in one way or another, so why do we give each other labels?
Actions have consequences and we should be cautious not to hurt others, however, some people struggle with arrogance and others struggle with gossip. Is one better than the other?
If you didn’t have the caring people in your life who supported you and who were loyal to you, would you have turned out the same? People don’t understand as long as we categorize everyone, there’s always going to be someone left out. How do you truly understand someone if you haven’t walked his path?
There’s a reason for everybody’s behaviour. However, using our past history or our challenges today as a crutch to not be sympathetic or compassionate, shouldn’t be an excuse. Although we have control over the unfolding of our life, we must consider, our past is responsible for who we are today. Furthermore, our response to adversities ultimately defines who we are, and some people simply don’t know how to respond to the trials of life.
We should be more understanding that we’re not all at the same place in our lives, and we didn’t start at the same place either. We should respect everyone’s journey, and know everyone is unique in one way or another.
Simply saying I understand and I respect you is enough to show compassion, and acceptance. This approach will be much more effective at creating a peaceful world and environment for everyone involved.
Condoning the behaviour isn’t the answer, however, we should be more understanding that not everyone is as fortunate as us, and everyone reacts differently to the challenges of life. The contrast allows us to evolve as people ultimately for the expansion of humanity and the universe.
Acceptance, sympathy and compassion is much more effective at creating a peaceful world than judgment or blame.
Create Your Own Label
If a homeless man was to teach you about love or faith when you felt completely alone and fearful, would he not be considered a teacher to you? Would you obliterate his words because he is a homeless man? Would you believe a world-renowned guru more than the homeless man even if his words were exactly the same as the guru? Often times we don’t take a person seriously because of his status or appearance, yet if someone had a suit and tie and he was recognized, we’d give him more credibility.
We don’t need a position of prestige to be assigned the label of a teacher or saviour. An individual teaches because he has an insightful message to share with others. An individual is a saviour if he saves someone from destruction or death, not because some outside source assigned him the label.
Does God’s spirit only dwell in the masters of this planet, or does he dwell in all his people? If God lives in all of us, then we can do great things such as the world’s greatest teachers. Jesus said in the scripture that with faith we would be able to do great things as he has done. That means we’re not limited by status, or a label.
Everyone who is spiritual or religious would say it’s the spirit of God which allows our heart to beat. If God allows our heart to beat, we know we would die if his spirit would leave us, therefore, we know he lives in us indefinitely.
We’ve all heard the Christian saying, I’m so filled with the holy spirit. Can’t we all access this holy spirit if we’re all made of the same stuff that creates worlds? The only limit is our thinking.
Being filled with the holy spirit only means being connected to our soul, and God. We connect to our soul by focusing on love which is God. We can’t help but to lead and teach by the clarity of our example, because who we truly are is meant to uplift.
How can we not teach something we are genuinely living ourselves? We don’t need labels to teach love or faith. We don’t need the label of a world-renowned guru to help others and humanity? Some people can hear the world’s famous Guru and not relate, but they can hear what a homeless man has to say, and be forever changed and enlightened.
Do we need a source outside of ourselves giving us a label, or can we create our own label and help others in which ever way we choose?
A Simple Act of Kindness
Everything we say and do affects those around us and changes the world one deed at a time. From the tiniest gesture of giving a homeless man a 10 dollar bill to giving a speech to millions of people on the love and power of God.
Giving a homeless man a 10 dollar bill not only gives him a lunch but this act of kindness changes his outlook on life. People that are homeless often feel rejected or overlooked by society for fear of mental illness or other factors.
A simple act of kindness changes their outlook on life and reminds them, there are compassionate people out there who are willing to help.
Simply sharing your story with them about how you overcame financial hardships or teaching them about the power of faith in overcoming obstacles is enough to show you care. It’s also enough to change their perspective about the world, humanity and their hope for the future.
Whether they receive your message or not, any act of kindness can remind someone, this is a compassionate universe and there is a God looking after the lonely and oppressed.
The person you reached out to has a new perspective and therefore he or she speaks about it to others, perhaps someone who is seeking enlightenment and who shares the same struggles, or past.
We are an extension of God from a source of love, so essentially, we are all one. By helping one fellow human being, you just helped yourself, because we are all interconnected, and we’re all made up of the same energy that creates worlds.
Any act of love feels joyous and satisfying, and the deed gives us satisfaction that we made a difference in another person’s life. By helping one individual you help everyone who’s connected to this individual’s life, and anyone he encounters in his pursuit for change.
If reaching out does nothing but put a smile on your face, then you will be living what every so called master taught you and the world, which is to live a life based on the principle of compassion and happiness.
So my advice is to contemplate your words and actions and know that you are a guiding light in a troubled world. Be aware of the simplicity of a kind word and gesture and keep in mind, the deed doesn’t have to be much to make a difference and to create a change for a brighter humanity!
Karma
Why do we see karma as an act of revenge or punishment? It’s as if we need validation that every person will get their day. We should see karma as a teacher for all of us. When we are hurt by another, we know how it feels, and we care to not hurt another person the same way. If we don’t learn from our mistakes, then we remain stagnant and don’t grow, which is a greater burden.
Here is a definition of karma according to an online dictionary: karma refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. In this text I’m focusing on karma’s interconnection with people and humanity, rather than from an individual perspective. I’m focusing on bringing light to the word karma, so we may work in unity rather than focusing on revenge and punishment.
Karma should be viewed as a teacher for our own evolution as individuals and humanity. We shouldn’t use karma as a coping mechanism to say they’ll get their day. What’s the saying that’s been repeated over and over again by the world’s greatest teachers? We are all one! Therefore, no one is left out, even the ones who repeatedly hurt people in their lifetime. I understand behaviour has consequences and it must be dealt with accordingly. However, by continuing to use karma as an act of revenge, we will only cause more acts of revenge.
God knows we’re not standing in a state of completion or perfection, but he does admire progress and learning from our mistakes. Without learning from our mistakes, we wouldn’t grow and without growth we’re not really living, and we’re of little value to others. For everything in life requires growth and expansion, primarily on a soul level, to create a better life for ourselves and for humanity.
If God loves all of us, then he would want peace for all of us. A peaceful ecosystem requires growth and learning from mistakes to essentially have a peaceful world. If the behaviour means anything to us on any level and we know we shouldn’t have behaved this way, karma acts as a teacher to help us grow as a human being.
Think of a time where you hurt someone, and after the fact that you hurt someone, another person hurt you the same way. You said to yourself, now I know how it feels. You then said, because I know how it feels, I choose to never do it again to another person. Why is that? Is it a punishment or is it you learning from your mistakes and wanting to grow as a person? You can say God helped you see the situation through his compassionate lenses.
Sometimes we don’t recognize our weakness and sometimes we don’t want to acknowledge our weakness. Either way without recognizing or acknowledging our weaknesses, growth is impossible, and we remain stagnant. Would you rather be the person who wants to grow or the person who chooses to remain stagnant and who has too much pride to admit he isn’t perfect?
If you feel karma is present in your life, just know it’s because God is helping you see the behaviour through different lenses, whether it’s your behaviour or someone else. Therefore, change your beliefs about karma. See karma as an opportunity for everyone to grow as a human being. Know that once you learn from your mistakes, there’s no need for continual reminders of what you call karma.
We’re all in this together, we’re just not at the same place, and know that whatever choice you make impacts another person and therefore changes the world one step at a time. Choose wisely!
Loving Oneself (Poem)
When he truly loves himself,
Accepts himself as he is,
Why does he need approval,
From anybody else.
If he is secure,
The critics don’t matter,
He knows where he stands,
Controversies don’t last.
If he truly loves himself,
Then why does he need convincing,
To prove to him, only what he can.
For if he is secure,
Then no words can offend him,
And he forgets what’s said.
When he truly loves himself,
What do compliments do,
Than reinforce what he knows.
And what does criticism do,
If it disagrees with his whole.
If he truly loves himself,
Why does he need praise,
When he praises himself,
And what is disrespect,
When he respects himself.
If he truly loves himself,
Then there’s no convincing,
And no ridicule,
That can make him change.
Because he is secure,
In what he knows,
And what others say,
He doesn’t care,
For he respects himself,
Above all else.
When he truly loves himself,
He doesn’t need another,
To bring him, only what he can.
A lover or a friend,
Only reinforces who he is,
For he searches himself,
And then the right ones come,
And are here to stay.
When he truly loves himself,
He doesn’t forget himself,
Or where he comes from,
Or who he is.
Because he is secure,
In what he knows,
And he loves himself,
Despite what others say.