What do you do about conflict?

You may dream of a peaceful situation where you always see eye-to-eye with people or, at least feel understood.  Yet, it can be hard to keep your spirits up when people you know desire to debate or disagree.   What do you do about conflict?

Realize conflict begins and ends in your mind.  Accept that you can agree to disagree.  No single idea will appeal to everyone all of the time.  Each person is at a differnt stage of growth based on life experience.  It is not your job to impose your views, prove that you are right or, to educate based on your values.  Similarly, you can be tolerant of others without adopting all they say.

You can freely offer your perspective.  You learn who to share views with and from whom to withold them.  This is not about keeping secrets.  It is about learning to sense where you relate to others and where you do not.   It does not generate positive energy to condemn people or to think negative thoughts.  Each person has the freedom to think and feel and resolve what he or she chooses. Some people do not desire to resolve issues.

How to move and be moved

This is a poem by South African Russel Blasopolis.  His words invite everyone to reframe their own life experience.  To raise consciousness, you are already learning to sense what you missed before now:

I do not see visions,

Nor do I dream dreams.

But I do see colours

And I know the taste of sound.

When I am standing very still,

I am immeasurably moved.

When I am moved to the point where I am

Lost in Grief, swayed by Passion or,

Overcome by emotion,

The best thing for me to do

Is to stand still

And realize

That this place,

So wodnerfully strange

Is also, my Home.

For as long as space endures

and for as long as living beings

remain, until then

I, too, abide to dispel

the misery of the world. 

Feel your way in the dark

How many people do you know who repeatedly say, "I have no idea where I am going or, what I am supposed to do?"  This is a human reaction based on the assumption you must know what is coming up.  In truth, many people are unaware of themselves right at this moment, how they think and what effect this has on the energy all around them.  Know that you are guided to rediscover options open to you.

You may not realize that you make the physical world a better place because of what you do.  You are gradually rediscovering your own underlying intentions.  As you set your mind to doing the best you can, you evolve to realize that is what is expected. 

You also move to realize that touching people at soul-level, is one of the most meaningful things you can do. This is like helping individuals come to their own revelations about their existence.  You have the power to spark curiosity, to kindle interests someone had forgotten or hesitated to listen to theeir passion.  You help people expand their own beliefs and understanding of what is possible so they devote energy in those diections.

Every moment, to some degree, you feel your way in the dark.   Your choices bring healing, deeper self-understanding and inspire others to explore powers within themselves.  You are always engaged in tasks on conscious and unconscious levels.  To serve with good intentions is what develops your character. 

Behind every effort you exert are the ever-present higher forces that never fail you.  They send you unconditional love, encouragment and support.  No matter what you do, you never fail yourself.  You are learning the value of what works or does not work.  You learn how your perception and awareness shape your self-judment.  You realize you fall down so as to learn to get up.  You make what you view as mistakes at a given moment in order to dissolve misplaced perceptions. 

How much are you worth?

Every human being is working on issues of self-love and self-esteem.  You are too, or you would not exist in the physical world right now.  Placing value on how you expend your perceived time and energy may seem a daunting task.  This goes beyond the quandry of how much to charge for your services if that happens to relate to your work.  Placing value on how you serve is one of the most challenging questions people find to answer.

From my own experience, part of my learning curve has been to accept assistance from others when there was no way to repay them.  It was not simply an issue of money, but a lesson in the value of giving without the desire to receive in return.  It has always felt great for me to give and not always receive back, but even that experience to an extreme taught me the immeasurable value of reciprocity.

Human beings can develop guilt complexes about being on the receiving end of love.  To recognize and confront your own resistance about accepting helps you gain priceless insight into yourself.  The idea of 'how much you are worth?' is not really a valid question. 

Each time you doubt you deserve attention or love, you are draining your own life energy and denying your own needs.  Extreme denial or complete surrender to love energy reveal different sides to your personality.  As you move away from the material answer of your tangible value, you approach the spiritual truth of yoru intrinsic worth.  How deeply you explore this in yoru thoughts and feelings, will greatly strengthen your positive thinking.

What are they really saying?

During a given day, you are consciously focused on completing a series of tasks.  You also react to what life throws you. Part of you reacts instinctively and other parts react based on conditioning.  What are your mind and body really saying?  Is this all a dream?

Think about your workplace. It is entirely likely that you periodically encounter disgruntled people.  This could be on the phone, across the counter, in the staff room, or  in some other interaction. You may evolve to see each encounter as a test for your patience, understanding, and ability to shake off the small stuff. How do you fare?

Think about your home life. When you leave and return, you leave with one set of emotions and return with the emotional results of your experiences. Do not assume that people around you will bring about much-needed changes in you.  As you become aware of what mind and body are telling you, then you choose what to retain and what to let go.

While at the gas station, I recently opened the door for a man who had his hands full of groceries.  Although he appeared surprised, he smiled and thanked me as he walked past.  The cashier was gob-smacked.  He confided to me that he had never before seen a female open a door for a male.  He also shared how he had almost given up on opening doors for women.  So many had reacted negatively to him, as if to say they were fully capable of doing it themselves.  My mind and body tell me what feels right. Regardless of external reactions, I rely on myself and have faith.  Do what makes sense to your mind and body.

You may ask, what ever happened to chivalry? If you choose to find anything in life, then you create it.  You may have heard someone say they expect dismissive remarks.  That is precisely what they experience, over and over. Positive, uplifting things are alive and well for those who invite this energy and are receptive.  What do you really say now?