Anyone want to join me in this? I figure we can participate by posting only positive things on this thread so that if any of us needs a healthy dose of positivity, we can just come here. Conversely, I respectfully request that those who do not wish to join us honor our intent by keeping potentially negative thoughts and ideas off this thread. I guess this means no political forum for me for the next three weeks.
Regardless, I thought the article was inspiring and worth sharing:
Several years ago, I met a most exceptional man named Willie Smith. What sets Willie apart from so many others is the particular set of life circumstances that came together to make him the man he is today?a superb physical trainer with a huge client?le. He is also a minister and a man with rare and rich wisdom, the type that takes your breath away. Several years ago, for example, Willie and I were out to breakfast and the subject turned to politics. More to the point, I changed the subject to politics and began carrying on and on about my very negative sentiments about the now former president. Willie said nothing as I tossed out one fact after another as if I was an attorney presenting a closing argument to a jury on a life or death case. Finally exasperated, I asked, "How can you be so passive about this president?"Inspiration from a Truly Blessed Man - Caroline Myss - Oprah.com
Willie's response was simple, clear, and profound: "I've never prayed for the man, therefore I have no right to judge him."
I was knocked silent by Willie's response. Because he had never prayed for the man, he had no right to say a negative thing about him. I realized I had never prayed for him either, and in that moment, I shifted. I thought about my tendency to judge others in general instead of first offering a prayer, and not just for them but for me, asking for assistance in healing the knee-jerk response to judge another person. Willie's wisdom had opened a passageway for me deep into my soul. But this gift for wisdom did not come without pain. In his prior life, so to speak, Willie was a drug dealer, an occupation he fantasized about from the time he was a young boy. He told me that in his youth he had spotted a dealer holding a handful of money, wearing lots of gold jewelry and looking like a big shot. That dealer made such an impression that Willie began to imagine himself in that role, exchanging the gifts of $5 and $10 bills he would receive from his elders for single dollars so that he could experience the sensation of having a wad of cash in his hand. Soon, a handful of years passed and Willie was the drug dealer he had envisioned himself becoming. He told me that while he was a drug dealer, he experienced one of those rare moments in which he realized, as he held a wad of money in his hand, that he had fulfilled his fantasized image of himself. At the height of his drug life, Willie was consuming $3,000 worth of cocaine and heroine a day and dressing the part of the successful drug dealer. He still keeps photographs of himself draped in a fur coat and gold jewelry as proof of his previous self.
So how did Willie go from being in the entrails of the drug culture to a loved minister and successful body trainer? Willie had what's known as a "conversion" experience.
Negativity Fast guidelines:
As a minister, Willie has his method of counteracting negative thinking carefully charted: meditation, referencing scripture and prayer. Not everyone is a minister, obviously, so for those of you interested in conducting a 21-day negativity fast, here are some suggestions as to how to maintain that fast when confronted with ordinary and extraordinary inner and exterior negativity:
Practical Wisdom
? Don?t strive for perfection and don't think in terms of 21 days. It's one day at a time.
? Keep your fast to yourself. Don't talk about it to others. <This thread is an exception.>
? Keep five favorite inspirational pieces at the ready that genuinely shift you into an altered inner state. These may be prayers, poems, a lovely selection from literature, lyrics from a song, a particularly meaningful letter, even words written to yourself?or a combination of the above. Refer to one (or more) when you feel yourself slipping into a negative place. <And feel free to post them here, please. They may help someone else, as well.>
? Use breathing techniques for centering.
? Walk away from stressful situations or conversations that are unnecessary to your life. Do not expose yourself to any unessential stress. <We can try.
? Do mini-meditations and mantras to regroup. <You can download tons of great meditations on amazon.com for only 99 cents.>
? Do not share with others what is troubling you, as you are feeding the negative beast within. Instead, practice detachment. More often than not, what troubles others in your world has nothing to do with you. It's your own insecurities that make you think that the bad or sad moods of others are somehow connected to you. Remind yourself of that fact. Stay detached and do not interfere with the difficulties of others. Do not invite negativity into your life.
? Consciously look for what is good, beautiful, positive and loving in your life. Remind yourself to choose love, if only in the form of seeing the positive in something or someone.
? Practice gratitude for big and small things, for friends and family, for home and food?for the blessing of your life. <A gratitude journal is a powerful thing.>
? Have no expectations of any outcomes or rewards for your efforts. If you are going to do this fast, do it because it just makes so much sense.
Finally, remind yourself that on Day 22, if your life shows no signs of improvement from being loving and positive, you can always go back to being negative. Good luck.
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Inspiration-from-a-Truly-Blessed-Man-Caroline-Myss
Did you know that they are considered a good omen and symbol of wisdom? 
