Positivity: Resistance
Resistance is not futile. But, remember, Carl Jung pointed out that “What you resist persists.”
We need to stand up to the wrongs we see happening, yes. We cannot ignore the bizarre, freaky, frightening things coming from the top of the US government. BUT – we also cannot let these things control our lives completely. We need to focus instead on changing the conversation.
Resistance is not futile, but we need to step back from a negative reaction, and try to figure out a positive pro-action to be taken. How can we generate a movement of positivity to counter, rather than resist?
Why the difference in approach? Because if what we resist persists, guess what happens? We continue to create more things to resist. Not only is that exhausting, it’s demoralizing, depressing, infuriating and almost every other negative emotion we can think of. If we’re approaching negative with negative, and like attracts like as it does, we’re actually expanding and prolonging the problems we are resisting.
Yes, peaceful “resistance” is not exactly resistance in the manner of spreading negativity. Dr. King and Gandhi had it right when they preached nonviolence. It IS a slow process, but in the end it works far better than violent resistance does. It took years, but their peaceful demonstrations got the message across, and changed the world. Consider this – what do you think would happen if the Palestinians stopped bombing Israel and began holding peaceful sit-ins? Think their situation might not be what it is today?
We need to begin to send messages to those in power who remain silent in regards to the drastic, illegal and unconstitutional matters happening in our nation. Remind them that there are three branches of government, and that the people they represent need them to take actions. We need to continue making phone calls, sending e mails, writing letters and generally offering alternatives to the negativity so prevalent in our lives right now.
We also need to push back at the fear. We are absolutely dominated by fear right now, and we need to embrace trust and courage instead. We need to stand together with those targeted by the fearful and fear mongers alike, and we need to show that those who might in some way be different from us are not to be feared because of their differences. We are ALL different from one another…but at the same time we are all ONE. We are all the same. We need to work together and replace the fear with understanding, trust, and even love.
This is not some hippy-crunchy notion. This is important. If we want to get away from all the negativity, we cannot resist with negativity – we need to counter with positivity. We need to show that there is a better way, and because I still believe that everyone wants good things for themselves, we need to generate positivity to make it more persistent in our lives.
Finding positivity is not hard, but it does require action. Knowing that what we resist persists, we need to find a counter invoking more positivity. When we change the energy of the fear and negativity to hope and positivity we empower ourselves. When we feel empowered, we often spread that feeling to others around us, and as such can build more positive feelings in the collective consciousness. We can use the positive feelings this generates to dissolve negative feelings. When we take away negative feelings, we open up space to let in positive feelings, and that is something we can be grateful for. Gratitude leads to happiness. Happiness is the ultimate positive attitude. Positive attitude begets positive energy, and that is always a good thing.
This is the one hundred fifty-seventh entry of my Positivity series. It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone. Feel free to share, re-blog and spread the positivity.
In relation to Positivity, check out my Five Easy Steps to Change the World for the Better.
