Writes of Courage

Chapter 7: Energy's Power

How many of us can say that we know just how instrumental our energies are in our day-to-day lives? Energy is the auras that we allow into our spaces and within ourselves, that ultimately dictate how we conduct ourselves as individuals. It's easily categorized into two: positive and negative energies. Whichever one you choose will always result in the outcome of your life. Because energy flows from within, to a great extent it is a part of who you are. It dictates the company that you keep and the things that naturally draw to you. Primarily the words we speak to ourselves and others; and about ourselves and others. The energy that you radiate is an active choice – the person you choose to be everyday though your actions and words. Others choose positivity and kindness, while others choose negativity and bitterness.

Quite often we commend what's called 'savagery'. The dictionary definition of the word is rather harsh to our interpretation of it, which is somewhat amusing and lighthearted. What I'm getting at here is that there is a vivid line between being savage and being mean. If it makes us laugh, you're a savage and it's somewhat acceptable. If it is offensive, then you are just plain rude. Much like how other people disguise their vile tendencies of disrespect as freedom of expression. How is attacking someone and poking fun at them on social media freedom of expression? We purposely ignore boundaries of nature such as kindness and make ridiculous excuses for ill behaviour. That ignorance is a choice. You had the option of taking a different direction but you consciously decided against it and chose to be mean and inhumane. Talking down on other people; being rude for absolutely no reason; being jealous of other people's general progress and happiness all because you feel stuck in one spot. This exact behaviour is probably the reason why you're stuck, because instead of working on yourself, you are focused on what others are doing, hindering your own growth and progress. It becomes a revolving cycle of bitterness that compels good people to exit your life because no one positive and progressive wants to be in the same space as a person who perpetually chooses to be negative.

It starts off small, like gossip. As soon as you know it you've become a bully with no sense of direction in life. Sometimes it seems like you are headed somewhere, but really you could do a lot better; you just won't see it because you are clouded by your antagonistic attitude. Ungrateful, manipulative, spiteful, etc. Overtime it becomes habitual and you embody that person. This I call 'intentional/purposeful negativity'. A choice to be bitter and envious of other people to a point where you have to make them feel terrible about themselves or guilty because life is going well for them – or at least that's what it seems. You fail to see good in anything and just choose to create loopholes where you can just say 'but' to demean that person. Others even go as far as fabricating fibs just to burst someone's bubble. Just because you are unhappy, everyone who is happy must suffer and have their peace disrupted. If that's the case, you need help. You need to do some extensive introspection because that behaviour, attitude, habit is unspeakably unhealthy; pure toxicity if I may say, and all roads will lead to self-destruction.

At the end of the day, you are wasting a lot of your time, gaining nothing and going nowhere fast. Next thing you get the shock of your life – a year(s) later and you've still not accomplished anything. Then you start blaming God and the universe for not looking out for you or other people for 'cursing you', when all the blame rests entirely on yourself. You have the full capacity of cursing your own life and cutting off the arms of progress and growth through your own utterances. If you persistently choose to be pessimistic, filling up your spirit with noxious emotions and your mind with lethal thoughts, it only makes sense that your output will reflect your input – you get out what you put in. Good people will leave, great opportunities will miss you or most likely won't even reach you. Yet again, don't be surprised. Look back at the person you are, your daily choices and the words that depart from your tongue and tally everything together to see if your 'misfortune' means that it's just not your time or you've just been bestowing it upon thy self. Nothing good will ever come out of being a mean person. Accept change so that you may grow and become the best version of yourself. A person you are worthy of being and can be proud of.

Kindness is a beautiful virtue that we generally owe to each other as mankind. It does not require much from you other than allowing your heart to smile and pass it onto other people. The most beautiful act of being a positive human. Personally, I just fall in love with people who show me kindness in any way possible – serving me with a smile and addressing me with respect, lending me a helping hand without expecting anything in return or just simply complimenting me. There's a level of warmth that I feel inside just from those acts which cost nothing but are just so invaluable. We all go through a lot and just a single act of kindness always goes the mile. Here's the thing: there's never a reason to be rude but there's always a reason to be kind. Don't be that person. Don't take pride in being unpleasant. I never would understand why so many people are able to endure the greatest pain and still walk out into the world with smiles on their faces and have everything good to say to the next person, yet others will go through pain also but find it okay to hurt other people. Why would you, being in pain and wishing that you weren't in that place, wish for someone else to feel that way? At the end of it all, your problems and pain persist. Respect others, treat them with kindness, wish them well, be happy when they've done well and sympathize with them when they are in pain. The beauty and goodness of your heart is a treasure that the universe will adore and wish to do well unto.

In as much as being negative can be a choice, it sometimes isn't. There's what I call 'circumstantial negativity'. Life is different for all of us, some more privileged than others. The poor. I completely understand how easy it is for someone who's been financially disadvantaged their whole life to just hang their head in shame all day long and have nothing good to say about life or their circumstances. We all have our threshold and breaking point, where enough is simply enough. You try, you really do but nothing comes up. You give it your all and remain hopeful but it's one closed door after the other. Or those that keep finding themselves in situations where they are constantly biting the bullet – whether it's losing loved ones or important things. The pain and heaviness of that part of your journey is something that nobody can procure you for, let alone tell you how to feel about or react to it. When you decide to stay down and push people away and resent life, it is understandable. You're human, you can only carry so much. You are allowed to be fed up and want to take some time off. Feelings of cynicism are expected.

Unfortunately, there's no formula to life. There's no telling when things will look up again or when you'll get your big break. There's no guarantee in 'let it go, don't fuss about it and it'll just happen' or 'believe really hard and it'll happen'. At the end of the day it's just life – fair on some days, unfair on others. What I am undoubtedly certain about though is that something will eventually happen for you, it's just a matter of when. What is meant for you will be, keep the faith. After hurting and healing, start all over again, with a new strategy and outlook(that's your personal assignment – figure it out ;)). What I can tell you is that filling yourself up and becoming a body of positivity works. It can be hard for some people based on their circumstance, but optimism does not need anything except for a change in attitude and a healthy commitment to it. Daily affirmations in whatever form – your own words to yourself, a song, motivational videos, literally anything. Tell those words to yourself with depth and meaning. Don't just hear but listen to them. Hear them command change to your situation. Absorb them into your being and believe them. Take it easy on yourself and take it a day at a time. Remind yourself every day that one day, someday, your day of victory will come. It may not be today. You're not forgotten nor are you a lost cause. You are worthy of happiness, success and a good life. Continue speaking words of life into your own life. God and the universe are forever listening. Don't dilute them with negativity by uttering something while your heart is still hard as stone and is still saying 'but what if' in the background. When you finally let go and believe do it in truth and in honour.


[REFLECTION: The energy you possess and allow to flow from your spirit can make or break you – choose wisely]