“Empathy is a universal solvent. Any problem immersed in empathy becomes soluble.” ~Simon Baron-Cohen
Empathy is defined as “a complex form of psychological inference in which observation, memory, knowledge, and reasoning are combined to yield insights into the thoughts and feellings of others. Empathy is a highly developed and sophisticated emotional response that references self and others. ”
The heinous taking of innocent lives not only in Newtown Connecticut, but worldwide, can neither be explained nor cured by debate of weapon control. There always have been and always will be a way to take the life of another. The recent travesty in Newtown did not happen because of guns, it happened because of a human being who had no empathy. An empathetic human being does not take such action of harm against another living being. All life taken by violence violates all of humanity
Can we control the senseless taking of innocent lives? Sadly, no, we cannot. Control is an illusion. We have never and will not ever control the actions, reactions, thoughts and even words of others. The only things we control are our own individual actions, reactions and words.
While we argue and fight among each other . . .
- Millions of humans worldwide are homeless and/or starving to death
- Worldwide war which only benefits those in political power is rampant
- Human life is being sold into slavery on the black market
- In the most inhumane and cruel ways imaginable, man and animal alike are being abused tortured and mercilessly slaughtered
- Our wildlife is being massacred to extinction
- We are abusing our planet to the point that it is crumbling beneath us
Someday the planet earth will cease to exist. Someday the sun will burn out. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not even promised the rest of this day. This moment is all that we have. If we use this moment to channel our energies into making a positive difference in the lives of others, we will effect profound change of mind, heart and spirit. These changes ripple and grow and affect the lives of others, not only in the moment, but vastly beyond this moment.
If we choose to spend this moment in argument, competition, debate, anger and words that hurt, what will we achieve? Nothing. I believe that this moment is the perfect moment to shift to higher levels of consciousness. Today is a very good day to begin to act from the heart, not the critical mind and to focus on becoming true models of the good we wish to see in this world.
For myself . . .
I choose to
support, discuss and write about
those things that build up,
encourage,
inspire,
motivate,
uplift
and propel others toward love.
I choose
to focus on
and promote
the heroes of this world,
rather than the villains
(although one certainly cannot be illuminated without the other).
I choose
to hope
that all of us will consider
the powerful opportunity
provided to us
to make a profound positive difference
from where we stand
and through the act of
standing together
in unity
reaching for the highest level of consciousness . . .
the evidence of this consciousness being . . .
empathy,
compassion,
kindness,
gentleness,
understanding
and peace.
Many Blessings.
~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits
THE ANIMAL SPIRITS 