May 12, 2008
In The World And In Ourselves
Feeling Fed Up With Humanity


From time to time, we may all feel fed up with humanity, whether it's from learning about what's going on around the world, or what’s going on next door. There are always situations that leave us feeling as if people are simply not capable of behaving in a way that is coming from a place of awareness. Often it seems as if people are actually geared to handle things in the worst possible way, repeatedly. At the same time, none of us wants to linger in a judgmental mood about our own species. As a result, we might tend to repress the feelings coming up as we take in the news from the world and the neighborhood.


It is natural to feel let down and disappointed when we see our fellow humans behaving in ways that are greedy, selfish, violent, or uncaring, but there are also ways to process that disappointment without sinking into despondency. As with any emotional response, we honor our feelings by feeling them fully, without judging or acting on them. Once we've done that—and we may need to do it every day, as part of our daily self-care—we can begin to consider ways that we might help the situation in which humanity finds itself.

As always, we start with ourselves, utilizing our awareness of the failings of others to renew our own commitment to be more conscious human beings. We are all capable of the best and the worst that humanity has to offer, and remembering this keeps us in check, as well as allowing us to find compassion for others. We may find ourselves feeling compelled to serve people who are suffering injustices at the hands of other people, or we may begin to speak out when we see something that we don’t think is right. Whatever the case, the only thing we can do is pledge to serve the best, rather than the worst, of what humanity has to offer, both in the world, and in ourselves.

Daily Om
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May 9, 2008
Remembering To Pause
Beyond Reacting


We have all had the experience of reacting in a way that was less than ideal upon hearing bad news, or being unfairly criticized, or being told something we did not want to hear. This makes sense because when our emotions are triggered, they tend to take center stage, inhibiting our ability to pause before we speak. We may feel compelled to release the tension by expressing ourselves in some way, whether it’s yelling back at the person yelling at us, or rushing to deliver words of comfort to a friend in trouble. However, there is much to be said for teaching ourselves to remember to pause and take a deep breath before we respond to the shocks and insults that can come our way in life.

For one thing, our initial response is not always what’s best for us, or for the other people involved. Reacting to childish rage with childish rage will only escalate the negativity in a situation, further ensnaring us in an undesirable dynamic. Similarly, when we react defensively, or simply thoughtlessly, we often end up feeling regret over our words or actions. In the end, we save ourselves a lot of pain when we take a deep breath and really tune in to ourselves, and the other person, before we respond. This doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t say anything, although in some cases, that may be the best option.

Some situations require a fairly immediate response, but even just a moment of grounding ourselves before we do so can help enormously. The next time you find yourself wanting to react, try to pause, and in that pause, take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the floor, the air on your skin, and listen for a response to arise within you, rather than just going with the first thing that pops into your head. You may find that in that moment, there is the potential to move beyond reaction and into the more subtle and creative realm of response, where something new can happen.



DailyOM

May 10, 2008
Incontestable Love
Leo Daily Horoscope


You may be driven by emotion today and prone to speaking your mind where your feelings are concerned. As a result, you may find that you are far more demonstrative than usual. If you typically keep your sentimentality under wraps, your emotions may exert themselves in a variety of ways. You may be inclined to show affection by giving the people you care for plenty of hugs and kisses, or you may be inspired to write letters of gratitude to the individuals who have played important roles in your life. Your devoted mood can become the mortar that cements the bonds of tenderness you share with your loved ones. Consider, today, that your friends and relatives will likely respond to your loving overtures with reciprocal warmth.

When we freely demonstrate our affection through loving words and deeds, the people we care most about move through their lives assured of the strength of our feelings. Many people fear that expressing their tenderness will make them appear vulnerable in the eyes of others and inadvertently leave their loved ones questioning the strength of the bonds they share. Yet any gesture that inspires warmth in the hearts of those closest to us will reassure them that our feelings for them are loving and rooted in kindness. We can then take pleasure in the awareness that the people we care for are secure in our affection and know that we would do anything to ensure their continuing well-being. You will guarantee that your loved ones understand the scope of your feelings today by expressing your love openly.


DailyOM

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