I am FOR it!

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I read the short essays frequently penned by Madisyn Taylor at the Daily OM website and this one today is a philosophy I subscribe to and have practiced for many years, even before the current “take Sides” culture we have today. I definitely believe that being FOR something is a better energy creator (and hence, results-creator) than the “I am against” whatever you are for stratagies we face today.

I am an elder and I am still learning how to use my power, and yes, even gauge my power correctly, rather than cave to the “I can’t do anything” mentality. I just, in most cases, choose to do my thing quietly and with discernment. I believe in doing that, I do change something, however big or small, for the good. As they sing in the popular showtune, Wicked, ….because you loved me, I have been changed for good.

Love changes all things for the better. Because love defeats fear. Love and Fear cannot co-exist.

 

Putting Power in Perspective

by Madisyn Taylor
You create better energy when you are FOR something, rather than AGAINST something.
As human beings, we cannot help but be subject to our preferences. However, we do have control over the manner in which these manifest themselves in our lives. Every value we hold dear is an expression of either support or opposition, and it is our perspective that determines whether we are for something or against it. As an example of a situation we are all familiar with at this time: We can direct our energy and intentions into activities that promote peace rather than using our resources to speak out in opposition of war. On the surface, these appear to be two interchangeable methods of expressing one virtue, yet being for something is a vastly more potent means of inspiring change because it carries with it the power of constructive intent.

When you support a cause, whether your support is active or passive, you contribute to the optimism that fuels all affirmative change. Optimistic thoughts energize people, giving them hope and inspiring them to work diligently on behalf of what they believe in. Being for something creates a positive shift in the universe, which means that neither you nor those who share your vision will have any trouble believing that transformation on a grand scale is indeed possible. To be against something is typically easy, as you need only speak out in opposition to it. Standing up for something is often more challenging, because you may be introducing an idea to people that may scare them on a soul level.

Throughout your life, you have likely been told that the actions of one person will seldom have a measurable impact on the world. Yet your willingness to stand up for what you believe in instead of decrying what you oppose can turn the tides of fate. The thoughts you project when you choose to adopt a positive perspective will provide you with a means to actively promote your values and, eventually, foster lasting change.

 

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Reading for Pleasure

http://www.sneemstorytellingfestival.com. Credit: Dominick Walsh Photography

 

I read for pleasure all the time. Reading is the most pleasurable choice time I have. I share Madisyn Taylor’s thoughts on this wondrous activity.

 

GUEST BLOG FROM Daily Om

Reading for Pleasure

BY MADISYN TAYLOR
Each time we read for enjoyment, the empathy awakened within us creates entire landscapes in our mind’s eye.

Every book has the potential to touch the human soul deeply, arousing patterns of thought that might otherwise have lain dormant. The pleasure we derive from the written word is unique in that we must labor for it. Other forms of art provide us with stimulus and ask nothing more than our emotional response. Reading is an active pastime that requires an investment of emotion as well as our concentration and imagination. The words we read are merely a starting point for a process that takes place largely within our minds and hearts.

There are few activities as comforting, relaxing, and healthy as perusing the pages of a good piece of fiction or nonfiction. Curling up with a book and a cup of tea is one of the simplest ways we can remove ourselves from the confines of reality in order to immerse ourselves in the drama and intrigue of the unfamiliar. The pleasure of transcending reality is only one aspect of the reading experience, however. Each time we read for enjoyment, whether we prefer the fantastic nature of fiction, the empathy awakened within us by memoir, or the instructive passion of nonfiction, we create entire landscapes in our mind’s eye. The books we choose provide us with the inspiration we need to accomplish such a feat, but it is our own creative reserves that empower us to use our imaginations for this unique and beautiful purpose.

The tales you lose yourself in can lead you on paths of discovery that take you out of your own life and help you see that existence can unfold in an infinite number of ways. You can learn so much from the characters and mentors who guide you from page to page. Your emotions are awakened each time you read, allowing you to become vessels of the passion that pours forth from line after line of print. Ultimately, the books you absorb–those that touch you deeply–will become a part of who you are, providing you with a rich and thrilling world within that you can revisit anytime you wish by simply closing your eyes. If you haven’t read a book for pleasure lately, try and allow yourself the time–you deserve it.

 

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