I have a dear and wonderful person in my life whose has been though a lot in his life, I mean he has really have been through a lot. I don't want to go into great details so you are going to have to trust me on this one.
Whenever we talk and I am just the least bit negative (don't be so surprised I told you that I am not enlightened yet, but a work in progress) he spins it right back into a positive. Sometimes it's like a ping pong match back and forth back forth with my friend always having the winning point. I come away from these conversations feeling good but also a little ashamed.
After a recent conversation with him, I sat down to journal and just let the thoughts and words pour out on the pages. The pen drifted to my friend and I then had a ah ha moment. Ah ha moments are the best, one of the many benefits of journaling and meditation which both help the dust settle in your mind so you can think clearer. OK, back to my moment. Because of what my friend has been through I always sense that he is teetering on the edge of keeping it together or losing it all together. His defense mechanism for keeping it together is to always have positive thoughts and positive people around him. That was my ah ha moment.
It reminded me of the teachings from Buddha. After he came out of 49 days of meditation he told his followers that life is suffering but he also told his followers that he had a plan to help us find happiness which he called the 8 Fold Path. Number 3 on that path is "right speech: clear, truthful, up lifting and non-harmful communication".
That is what my friend is try to do to end his suffering. We really don't pay attention to or realize how much our words not only affect us but everyone we communicate with.
That is what my friend is try to do to end his suffering. We really don't pay attention to or realize how much our words not only affect us but everyone we communicate with.
"Watch your thoughts; they become words, Watch your words' they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character it become your destiny." ~Laozi~
So the next time you go to open your mouth.....pause.....and just breath.
