Here's a lie we've been told since we were little and have probably told ourselves: Remember that childhood rhyme: Stick and stones May break my bones But names will never hurt me? There is power in words because there is consciousness and intent behind them.
That means, with enough of us, we could make a lever out of our thoughts and feelings by turning them into words of constructive power instead of tending to use them badly.
That means we could make the world into anything we want.
Right now, we make the world into what we expect.
But is it what we want? As adults we have learned that names, and all the negative, mean things people find to throw our way, really does hurt: Enough garbage, piled high enough, can do serious, deep, long term harm to one's psyche - just look at the news.
And then there's all those people who never say a word about the pain they suffer...
It's a lot of people, and a lot of attention focused on negativity, something the world seems to provide in abundance.
But does the world really provide negativity in abundance? Or do we simply perceive so much more of it because, in a survival situation, it's more important to remember the negative than the positive, allowing us to react appropriately to the needs of survival should there be a next time? You know, "Live to fight another day", and so on.
But this is probably the most stressful way a person can live; constantly focusing on the negative in order to survive.
It certainly doesn't help anyone to thrive.
In a book called Urban Shaman by Serge King, there's an interesting rule: Energy flows where attention goes.
Its two corollaries are: Attention goes where energy flows and, everything is energy.
In other words, when there's a lot of attention put on something, it gains power and solidity and becomes a reality.
However, you can put your attention somewhere else, and get a different result.
This is the nature of magic.
It is the nature of quantum mechanics.
It is also the nature of the thing we call choice.
Let's say you're having an ordinary day; not particularly stressful, just going about your business.
Then you encounter someone who does not look very happy, angry even.
You've got two choices (or energy flow courses): 1) Look to the negative - leave the person alone because they could spread "badness" or negativity your way; be afraid.
So, the course of action would be to ignore them in some way, like they aren't there in your little section of the universe as you pass them by.
2) Look to the positive - feel concern for a fellow being, since we all know what it feels like to have a bad mood or day, and decide to spread a little cheer in their direction, maybe making a teensy difference in how they're feeling right then.
So, you smile, and if you're feeling really bold and/or happy, say hello, good evening, or whatever.
In the first instance, you have not created a net zero effect by ignoring them.
Everything is energy, so you have possibly even added to that person's negative state with your own fear as you passed them.
Now, perhaps they go home to a partner and children in an increased negative state.
The home is where we believe we can let our hair down.
It's supposed to be our "zone" or castle: A domain that belongs to us.
Another way to put it, is a place where we can dominate.
The person gets in the door.
The children are demanding (as children often are) and this person has had it to the eyeballs with the stress they've been dealing with.
They start letting it loose because they can't seem to hold on to their control anymore.
Yelling ensues.
The partner gets angry.
More yelling ensues, etc..
Everyone goes to bed unhappy.
Maybe it's not a new thing, so nobody really wakes up happy, even if there are apologies.
They leave the house and spread the feeling.
Ah, the perils of modern life...
Ok, now for the second instance.
Again, everything is energy.
You smiled, said hello perhaps, and spread a little cheer.
They feel that maybe, just maybe, the world isn't so negative.
They start making a few positive associations.
They go home to their "zone" - possibly now viewed as a safe zone and a place to be protected.
The person gets in the door.
The children are demanding (as children often are), but that just means they're full of life, and that's a good thing.
A very good thing.
They tell the children they're loved.
They tell their partner they love them.
Maybe they talk to their partner about what's going on.
They could even make some life course changes from that conversation.
Everybody goes to bed feeling loved and needed.
They wake up feeling loved and needed.
They see somebody looking angry, smile, say hello...
Ah, the joy of being human.
Where along the way have the words "humane' and "humanity" been forgotten? Those two words, more than any other words, describe what it is to feel compassion, love and kindness, and to express it is SO SIMPLE! So why don't we do it? I honestly don't know, but I do know some of the symptomatic indicators of why we don't: Video games, and if you don't think they really have an affect, ask NASA, the military around the world , and the medical profession why they use interactive computer simulations to help train their people.
Video games are simply somewhat less realistic in the effects you get during gameplay and consider the line-ups for new gaming stations.
Now look at the bulk of the titles; violence (and the cheapening of life), sells.
The news: It's not really news if people are doing good things; it's a human interest story.
Many TV dramas: "Edgy" they call it.
Cynical and lacking in hope I call it.
TV "reality" shows: The glorification of the lowest common denominators in human behavior, primarily self-centeredness, and people watch these shows like addicts.
Shopping: Consumerism, or the creation of the disposable world: You are what you buy, and the government tells you that you're helping the economy.
Politicians: We'll help you live better, then help themselves live better, whilst making sure you don't.
These are all things we're in control of and create for ourselves and others.
Weirdly, none of these institutions are actually a problem in and of themselves.
Imagine how smart we could make ourselves with interactive experiences as a positive learning tool.
The Myst franchise is one example of how it could be approached.
TV dramas could show current dilemmas using metaphors and give a different, hopeful response.
The old Star Trek shows did this very effectively.
Shopping should be done with thought and care of how the purchase will actually add to your life or not.
That includes food, clothing, everything.
With politicians, do some research before you vote, because your vote does matter.
In point of fact, you, and everything you do, matters a great deal.
There wouldn't be much point to the universe if individuals didn't matter a great deal.
"But I help a kid in Africa (Palestine, India, etc.
)".
Actually, that's pretty wonderful, but when was the last time you had a friendly conversation with your neighbor? Or tried to learn how help the poor in your area? Giving to charity is a very nice thing to do, but learning and doing it yourself (especially close to home) would do so much more good, because not only do you restore a person personally, they help to restore you.
It's an exchange of energies, direct and meaningful.
It won't work every time, but then again, nothing ever does.
At least, not when there is choice involved and a minimum of two people.
Most animals don't soil their own nest, and humans are supposed to be the most intelligent of the lot, but when the human nest is soiled, they seem to interpret the necessary action as "throw it out" especially if it seems used up.
The interpretation should be, "There's a person in need of clean up.
Maybe I can do something".
When you see someone who's in need of this, remember they are a someone, and start with a smile.
Please.
The world you create is in the choices you make: It happens in every moment and requires you to think BIG.
The really hard part, in this world, is to think and feel beyond the proximity of self.
I want you to understand that what I'm telling you here is NOT to be selfless; in fact I'm telling you to be quite selfish.
But, in order to be selfish in your own best interests, what you need to stop being is self-centered.
The difference between those two concepts is, you're selfish enough to demand a better world for yourself by thinking how you can make other lives better through your actions, and then they go out and do the same, so you can have your better world.
Make it a different world: If you go beyond, you WILL find a magical world absolutely full of hope where extraordinary things happen all the time.
It is in that world that all thrive.
Be the first to start something revolutionary: Tip the world over onto its back, and dominate it with kindness.
Start a positive domino effect and keep no prisoners!