We all know Mahatma Gandhi as one of the world’s greatest political and spiritual leaders. While his famous quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” has inspired millions, his complete quote is even more inspiring:
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present
in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.
If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.”
Gandhi wasn’t the only spiritual leader to address this issue. Jesus also advised:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.”
I think we can all agree, we haven’t found heaven in the world out there!
We certainly have the power to create our own reality through our thoughts, words and actions. If we can create our own reality, why wouldn’t the combination of all of us create our collective reality? Which means, if the combination of all of us created it, why couldn’t the combination of all of us change it?
We have all had front row seats watching our nation’s drama unfold. It’s crazy, it’s scary, it’s intense. We have become masters at finding and condemning every injustice in everyone else. It’s easy to blame and point the finger, trying to insist others change, no matter how ineffective it is.
But something remarkable happens when we look in the mirror. Each of us who have been armchair critics, with no sense of power or influence, now have all the power it takes to create meaningful change. We have the potential to become the heroes and changemakers of our own life.
We might as well, because…
We… Are… The… Ones… We… Have… Been… Waiting… For…
The Macro to Micro Mirror
- Think about the things that bother you the most in our outside world and make a list. Try to get down to the core energy behind it. We are looking for the energy behind the issues that trigger you the most.
- For example, perhaps the thing that bothers you the most is racism. If you look at the underlying energy, you may find prejudism, condemnation, judgment, fear at the core. To offset that energy, pull on their opposite and exhibit acceptance, respect and love for other people. Starting with ourselves.
- Or perhaps the thing that bothers you the most is the concern that we are heading very quickly into a dictator state where the government controls our every move. If we look at the underlying energy it is about control, manipulation and fear. The offset could be the allowance of another’s free will, sovereignty. Or complete faith in the wisdom and process of the Universe.
- Now take the awareness of that energy and examine yourself and how you show up in the world.
- Can you find areas in your life where you are not accepting and respectful?
- Can you find areas in your life where you do not honor another’s free will and sovereign choice?
- Since every mis-creation is grounded in fear, can you find areas where you are fearful?
- Once you identify the places where you exhibit the same characteristics you judge, do some journaling to identify how you might transform your own behavior. What issues or people are a concern? What words or characteristics would you like to change about yourself? Are there people you need to make amends with?
- Then make a conscious attempt to anchor this new consciousness in the outside world. For example, if you feel you need to be more accepting and respectful, think about some activity you can do to practice your newly emerging attribute. Maybe its volunteering at a local foodbank or homeless shelter. If you feel you need to respect other people’s choices, pay attention. Perhaps you need to stop imposing your ideas or advice on other people.
As each of us takes responsibility to ‘clean up our own stuff’, we become more empowered because we now have the correct vision it requires. Our life transforms from one that is random and reactionary, to one that is thoughtful and empowered to literally one that each of us can “Be the Change you Wish to See in the World”.
Seven Billion Rising 