"That which sticks in our craw
is what creates our dis-ease."
-- Albert K. Strong
[Classic post from 4-27-17]
Nelson Mandela said, "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison." That is stating what he is bringing with him or leaving behind. Sometimes it may be a challenge to leave behind something that has ruled our lives for a time, however long it may have been.
But, my favorite quote by Nelson Mandela is how that bitterness or hatred, however, we think it may be directed, or however we think it may be justified is not doing anything but damaging ourselves. He said, "Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." That which sticks in our craw creates our dis-ease.
Yet, I have to add one more from Nelson: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
No one is born hating, pushing against, being in resistance. It is all learned. From our parents, teachers, peers, friends, the media in all its forms. With all of this, it is easy to have things stick in our craws. And look at all the diseases we have created even in the last 50 years compared to all of human-time.
It is easy to think that the negative baggage of beliefs that we have are there because they are real and true, but they are no more real and true than anything that we have learned and accepted. We often may even feel as if that baggage has power over us, and that is only true as we accept that premise. The real truth is that we are infinitely more powerful than any belief we choose to hold. Accepting being a victim or accepting being in full control is purely a choice, along with all the levels in between. We choose it all and create our own world as a result of those choices.
Michael A. Singer, in his ground-breaking book, The Untethered Soul, is teaching how to clear the craw by allowing everything to flow through us, accepting it as it is, yet not giving it any other power or meaning, and certainly not holding on to any of it. As it flows through, we are continually cleared and free. The only harm that ever comes is from allowing things to stick causing a blockage and creating stagnation.
Some people say that we have to accept the world as it is, things as they are, and fight, fight, fight for what we want. I like how Alan Cohen puts that into perspective. He says, "If you must accept what is, then accept the presence of love, beauty, abundance, and perfection."
Finally, how do we know where we are? By how we feel. I know what love, beauty, abundance, peace, and joy feel like. I also have experienced and so know what hatred, anger, resentment, powerlessness feel like. You could say that if it feels good, it is, and if it doesn't feel good, it is. If it feels good, it flows, and if it doesn't feel good, it sticks. That's how we can know and then choose as we will.
Letting Go Permits The Flow And Creates The Glow.
Spread Some Joy Today--by rising above and seeing yourself anew.
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