Each day we hear news about crime, environmental crises, and economic stress. On the other hand, there are tremendous sources for hope.
On Monday, Oprah Winfrey initiated a ten-week online webinar with Eckart Tolle, author of "The New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." Over 500,000 viewers attended. This was a first time ever event. I highly recommend the class. You can still sign up at www.Oprah.com
Eckhart Tolle's message is we can choose to be part of the problem or a part of the solution. It is a matter of making a shift in how we view the world. This is not a new message. The same information has been presented in the Bible and spiritual teachings for generations. What is new, is the coming together of energy, people and interest to create an impact for good. Is it possible, for this to catalyze a larger change? I have found three sources for hope. . . .
The first is an increased awareness of the importance of the positive. Positive Psychology has provided a major contribution in the study of resilience, character strengths and virtue. Most interesting is that they have discovered the virtues and strengths common to all cultures and religious traditions. Of these strengths, each individual has their own unique signature pattern. This helps to see ourselves as united, unique and connected.
The second is a growing understanding of the unconscious, the early developmental antecedents of emotional trauma, and the importance of early attachments. New technologies have made it possible to identify emotional pain and undo it through emotional release and forgiveness, making for faster healing. We all start from birth, we all have a childhood. An understanding and release of these early patterns helps to promote compassion.
The third source of hope comes the recognition that positive is more powerful than is the negative. It broadens and builds, helps us to become more tolerant, to cooperate, and to share more of our resources. Pain, from this perspective, becomes an opportunity growth, rather than a problem to be excluded and removed.
Drawing us together, an understanding of these principles can create a tremendous force for good.
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