Dear Unity Friends,

Last week, I shared insights from Gill Farrer-Halls on positive thinking and wisdom. Now let's think about what to do when we are facing a negative situation. How do we keep our thoughts from becoming negative? How do we stay out of that crazy-making place in our minds that results in making the situation worse? We know that if we can keep our thoughts positive, we have a better chance of dealing with the situation with wisdom and not creating more bad action or negative results (karma).

Gill Farrer-Halls offers these words: If a negative thought arises, immediately think its opposite. When people act badly or abusively toward you, instead of reacting negatively with anger, you can reflect that your hurt feelings are just a manifestation of your self-cherishing, only caring for yourself. If you can then develop compassion for those who hurt you by considering they must be suffering a great deal to behave this badly, then you will not lose your peace of mind and retaliate, which will only cause further suffering. Using positive thoughts like this is a powerful method to protect your happiness.

Farrer-Halls ends this section of her book with this powerful statement: "The fundamental nature of the mind is pure and clear. All thoughts are simply passing through." All thoughts are simply passing through. We can choose which thoughts will stay and inhabit our minds. Some stay for only a fleeting minute. Others may be with us for years or decades. Which thoughts do you choose to live in your mind? Every moment that we embrace a calm and peaceful mind, we bring calm and peace to our bodies. Every moment that we embrace a calm and peaceful mind, we bring calm and peace to our homes. Every moment that we embrace a calm and peaceful mind, we bring calm and peace to our community and to our world.

This week, practice Farrer-Halls suggestion. If a negative thought arises, immediately think of its positive opposite. Write me and let me know what changes occur in your life as a result.

Namaste`
Robin