Welcome The Challenge

 Happy Weekend All, It's Me Again.  Hope you've enjoyed our recent climate-change sci-fi movie here in NYC!

I'm going to talk about some more next-level stuff.  Once we've gotten over whatever bothered us about the past, we've gotta zone in on the here and now.  However, sometimes that can unfortunately send us on the tangent of worrying about the future.

When we are not spoiled or sheltered, life presents us with challenges:  Situations that are uncomfortable, unpleasant, and sometimes a little bit scary.  Actually, though the occurrence are rare, we can still be confronted with situations that are actually very frightening.

It's OK to acknowledge that it feels uncomfortable or scary.  We're human, and we do feel things.  However, the trick is to get through that fear the same way we could previously get through grudges and resentment.  They are still negative emotions that have the capacity to paralyze us, so the key is to avoid being paralyzed.

The worries for the future can be addressed exactly the same way as the regret or resentment of the past.

(1)  Of course, mindfulness and meditation are the first step.  So long as we can keep these thoughts off of the forefront of our minds, we are already ahead of them.  If We Make The Angels Stronger, Fighting Our Demons Will Be Easier.

(2)  Handle whatever can be handled in the present moment.  If there's nothing to be done, then don't think about it.  If there is something to be done, however, get yourself prepared.

(3)  When the challenge actually comes, rely on your preparedness and act.  Decide.  Execute.  State.  Point.  Represent.  Advocate.  Focus.  And no matter what, never let anything get under your skin, no matter how adversarial it's presented.

If you overcome this challenge, be respectful and grateful.  If you don't, be respectful and learn a lesson.

But whatever you do, don't let fear, worry, anxiety, or perceived helplessness get in your way.  Keep them all in your proverbial safe room, and get ready to do the hard work.

MOTHER PROTECT US, FATHER EMBOLDEN US.

A New Spirituality

 Happy Saturday, All.

Once again, a little introspection and soul-searching:

(1)  In the past, I had trouble understanding the way people were.  It seemed that no matter where I was, there were always rules that I had to follow, and it was inevitable that I would receive consequences for the slightest infraction.  And it also seemed inevitable that very few others were subject to those rules, or exposed to those consequences.  It didn't make sense.

(2)  Now, I understand the Rating System.  In every group dynamic, people are naturally assigned ratings based on their perceived strengths and weaknesses.  Some call this a "pecking order," but I think that people are more enlightened than poultry.  The point is that when you have a lower rating, more rules get imposed on you and less respect is provided to you.  And when you have a higher rating, you are exempt from many of the group's rules, and the respect provided on you borders on a lifetime free pass.

(3) It is fashionable these days to "advocate" for victims.  This means seeking out to those who might have once had lower ratings, for one or more reasons that were unjust, and demanding that they be provided with higher ratings.  Not because they have earned them, and not to "even the playing field," but because they actually seek to bring down, depose, and defeat those who have the higher ratings.

(4) On an emotional level, this can feel quite valid.  After all, people with higher ratings tend to be rude and conceited, and are often spoiled by their seemingly privileged stations in life.  To someone who is at a lower level, this can seem very obnoxious and antagonizing, and it's very easy to grow resentment and sometimes hatred as a result.

(5) From a logical and rational level, however, this can seem like an inevitable part of life, which it actually is.  Yes, people do get more spoiled and full-of-themselves than they should be.  However, getting angry at them and seeking to hurt them, or worse, is not the answer, no matter how much it feels like it is.

(6) What is the answer for those with lower ratings?  There are actually several.  

    (A) If attaining a higher rating is not possible where you are, get yourself to a new location where the possibility of advancement actually does exist.  

    (B) If it is possible, then work hard.  Harder than anyone else there, until they have no choice but to give you a higher rating.

    (C) Start caring less about their opinion of you, and start caring more about your opinion of you, and of them.  External validation should mean much less than it does.

(7)  At some point, you should develop enough self-respect to persevere in spite of such low ratings.  For younger folks, this would mean getting past bullying, not reacting to being yelled at, and not demanding that those who insult or reject you apologize for their shoddy behavior.

(8)  Recognize that there is a Lady Named Karma.  She's Not Attracted to Bad Boys and She's Not Friends With Mean Girls.  If those who assign you lower ratings are really that wrong, they will face their own consequences, courtesy of Her.

(9)  That Lady doubles as the Mother who Protects Us all from actions or consequences that may harm us - she's also been known as the Angel On Our Shoulders.  While it's not guaranteed on-demand, She does have the discretion to intercede on our behalf and prevent what others could do to us from being worse than it could be, or thwarted entirely.

(10)  And as Her tag-team partner, we have the Father who Emboldens Us all when those actions or consequences have us facing them.  That's where we develop resilience, courage, and longevity.

Yes, Friends And Neighbors, I'd like to develop some of these spiritual catch-phrases into an honest-to-goodness spiritual practice for those who feel less-than, done-to, and left-out, without seeking to sabotage those who appear to be overly-privileged.  I hope some of you could help me make this happen.

I EXIST.  I MATTER.  I BELONG.  I DESERVE.

RESPECT ALL.  BEFRIEND FEW.   LOVE ONE.   HATE NONE.