Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Year's Day


Affirm the Positive

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. The book is called 'Opportunity' and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”
                                              Edith Lovejoy Pierce

This is the day of fresh starts. New Year's Day, a new beginning, a clean slate. The old order has passed away and the new begun. Leave behind all the negative patterns of thinking and being, and start anew in a more positive and optimistic way.

Ah, if only it were that easy, you say. Well, it is, actually. One has to tune into one's inner dialog; the 'home-grown terrorist chatter' that goes on inside our heads every time we make a mistake, or someone else does. When you hear yourself express a negative sentiment, or a criticism, just think, “I call my spirit back from that,” and start over with something hopeful—for instance, “I made a mistake, but I can correct it.” It takes a while to establish new behaviors, so be gentle with yourself.

The body responds to optimism by generating energy that is attractive. It attracts to itself similar energy, and thus brings about optimistic events and opportunities. Hold this affirmation, “2013 will be a very good year; good things will happen for me and for the world.” Write it on a piece of paper and tape it to your bathroom mirror. Read it several times a day while you are brushing your teeth. Repeat it until you believe it, and then some.

An email from Susan this morning said that in 2013, she wishes for an end to racism in all its forms and behaviors. Think what a different world we would have if we did just that one thing! Let us resolve, therefore, to end our own racist thoughts and actions. Whoever we are, of whatever race, we have racist thoughts as tapes that run on automatic pilot, even when we no longer hold them to be true. We can short circuit those tapes by tuning in and calling them back. The only way to overcome an evil such as racism, is to replace it with love and compassion one heart at a time.

2013 has begun with rain in Birmingham. I see that as a blessing. I hope that wherever you are, you can identify the everyday blessings in your own life. Over time, it is these simple blessings add up to a cup that is full and running over with grace.

                                                 In the spirit,
                                                      Jane

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