Change is constant, nothing settles, truly; and at the same time, that state of constant change is the "settled state" of Change.
There is the kind of change that one initiates one's self, and there is the kind of change that is initiated outside of one's self, but ultimately, the individual is an active participant in any changes that occur in their own life, as they make choices about what, where, when, why, and how to act on what is before them. It is to be noted that inaction, too, is still a conscious choice.
Ultimately, the how is what distinguishes one in one's life. The quality and means of going about what it is one goes about doing is as important as what, where, when, and why one is doing it. People are remembered throughout history for the poise, foresight, intelligence, compassion, innovation, grace, humility, and class with which they have conducted themselves in times of great change; others are remembered for the greed, cowardice, small-mindedness, selfishness, and disrespect that infused their deeds. Witness the varieties of reaction to the events of 9-11, some supported the community in chaos, others exploited the situation for their own benefit. But this is seen and manifested on the tiniest of levels between people, as well as the large; these smaller instances of conduct and interaction start with the self, and expand outward to one-on-one interaction, to group interaction, to interaction with one's society, one's species, other species, et cetera, and are the foundation for human existence as a conscious evolving species.
Evolution starts inside one's own self, one's heart, head, and core, in what religions refer to as the soul. If there is clarity in one's conduct with one's self, then there is a corresponding clarity in one's conduct with others: this is called acting from love. If there is poison in one's conduct with one's self, it cannot help but infect one's dealings with others; this is acting from fear. Both qualities act in domino-effect fashion, infusing all involved with the energy at the source; oftentimes increasing it exponentially to the joy or suffering, respectively, of everyone. The unfortunate tendency is to meet negative with negative, to give an eye for an eye. It is possible and necessary to transmute, if you will, any negative energies into positive, and vice versa. Why anyone would want to transmute Gold into Lead is a mystery to me. It is no accident that "treating others as you would have them treat yourself" is called The Golden Rule.
There is the kind of change that one initiates one's self, and there is the kind of change that is initiated outside of one's self, but ultimately, the individual is an active participant in any changes that occur in their own life, as they make choices about what, where, when, why, and how to act on what is before them. It is to be noted that inaction, too, is still a conscious choice.
Ultimately, the how is what distinguishes one in one's life. The quality and means of going about what it is one goes about doing is as important as what, where, when, and why one is doing it. People are remembered throughout history for the poise, foresight, intelligence, compassion, innovation, grace, humility, and class with which they have conducted themselves in times of great change; others are remembered for the greed, cowardice, small-mindedness, selfishness, and disrespect that infused their deeds. Witness the varieties of reaction to the events of 9-11, some supported the community in chaos, others exploited the situation for their own benefit. But this is seen and manifested on the tiniest of levels between people, as well as the large; these smaller instances of conduct and interaction start with the self, and expand outward to one-on-one interaction, to group interaction, to interaction with one's society, one's species, other species, et cetera, and are the foundation for human existence as a conscious evolving species.
Evolution starts inside one's own self, one's heart, head, and core, in what religions refer to as the soul. If there is clarity in one's conduct with one's self, then there is a corresponding clarity in one's conduct with others: this is called acting from love. If there is poison in one's conduct with one's self, it cannot help but infect one's dealings with others; this is acting from fear. Both qualities act in domino-effect fashion, infusing all involved with the energy at the source; oftentimes increasing it exponentially to the joy or suffering, respectively, of everyone. The unfortunate tendency is to meet negative with negative, to give an eye for an eye. It is possible and necessary to transmute, if you will, any negative energies into positive, and vice versa. Why anyone would want to transmute Gold into Lead is a mystery to me. It is no accident that "treating others as you would have them treat yourself" is called The Golden Rule.
No comments:
Post a Comment