#137: Doing Good

In chapter three, titled Doing Good for Those Closest to You, she tells us that whether we know it or not, our energy creates a ripple effect like a stone that's thrown into the ocean.

We all have a vibration that resonates within us and out into the world.

The first circle is outside ourselves where this ripple effect is felt is within our homes.

Goodness has the power to soothe and delight the ones we care most about.

It is contagious, but so is the ripple effect caused by negative energy.

If we choose to bring a cloud of bad energy home with us, guess what? Everyone in the house quickly becomes infected.

We can choose harmony instead of chaos.

This awareness and acceptance can be done anytime you feel angry, upset, frustrated, or sad.

Your emotions may be intense, but they're just fields of energy.

You are the one who can choose how they'll affect you.

They can ruin your day completely, or you can choose to look at them and release them in a positive way.

So before an argument with a loved one gets completely out of hand, quiet yourself and say, even just inside your head, "I choose calm." Sounds simple, right? But if it were that easy, why doesn't everyone do it? What I've realized is that when someone upsets me, it's really a trigger to show me something within myself.

If I'm angry at someone, the anger is really an energy that's within me.

So I ask myself, "What has this outburst triggered within me, and what do I need to resolve in order to feel better?" Once I look at the anger within myself and understand it, I can then release it, breathe deeply, and choose calm.

When we acknowledge that we're all covered up diamonds and we know the process that it takes to uncover our layers and come to accept and love ourselves, we can then accept others with greater awareness and compassion.

We can also learn to be thankful to them for showing us what we need to resolve within ourselves.

It helps to remember that our loved ones are worthy of compassion just as we are.

They've had their own set of hurts, frustrations, and disappointments, and they're likely reacting from a place of fear and pain.

Give them the benefit of the doubt and try to meet them halfway to understand their point of view and extend love to them.

Many family upsets come about because someone wants to change the other person.

Each person feels that their way is the right way and everyone else should agree, but you have to accept that those you love are different from you.

After all, each person in the world is unique.

They may want different things, but they're still your family.

When we accept this rule of nature, you can't change someone else, and we choose to give up fixating on changing other people and convincing them of our own views, we officially have permission to let go.

We can still offer support, encouragement, and understanding.