This is only a very small start of a conversation. This is a bit
jumbled up, and scattered, because it is a big issue. But it is an attempt to
try to change how we think and behave. If you read this and sight back all the
reasons it will never work, show me how you have tried first. Show me how you
have added to the solution and have not given up. You certainly can’t expect to
look around right now and see the change. It has not happened yet. We are the
seeds, that can grow into big strong trees. It starts with us, and you can feel
the positive change today, if you believe it is possible.
All of the horrors of the world can start to be healed, IF today,
WE start to think and behave differently. Collectively. World peace is
possible, and it starts with knowing it is, believing you have the power to
help see it happen, and taking steps to make it happen. I am positive that we
all have the power to see this happen. Absolutely certain. I have put together
this seemingly long list of ideas that all blend together to showcase how easy
it can be. Will it take work – yes, the most challenging kind of work you have
done yet. But by far the most rewarding because you will be a part of the most
exciting movement ever – peace on earth. It starts with you. Life is not a
series of individual problems, but it sure can feel that way if we don’t focus
on the big picture. For instance, here are some small, individual problems:
· We
are told that all politicians lie, but we must vote. We should instead be
encouraged to go to town meetings. Kids should be allowed to go with parents,
so they can learn how to get to know the people running in their town. The
meetings should not be some formal stuffy occasion, but a gather and greet.
Heck, maybe they are, I have never been. We should know what the issues are in
own area, and feel connected to making positive change, or keeping the good
stable.
· The
news is scary and depressing and yet we are told to keep up with current
events. We should instead turn off the news and be peaceful to each other.
· People
are starving, and yet there is an abundance of food. So much food is thrown out
daily.
· People
are homeless and yet there are empty houses with new ones being built daily.
Same with buildings.
· And
on and on and on and on with individual real life problems, all with solutions.
We are taught to be nice, as children, but so many adults are
unkind to each other. Parents, yes, they are human, and yes, they won’t be perfect,
but they need to do much, much, much better, in general. Parents are the cause
of the “kids these days”, not the kids. The kids just got here. When they were
born, they were a blank canvas. Yes, they came with a disposition and an IQ,
but that is about it. Elementary kids
hug and kiss each other. They are happy to see each other. They go to school
with excitement. Teachers and parents watch as they become, us. They become us.
They learn what we show them. In our houses, in our schools, and on the news.
Parents need to talk to other parents much more. We need to go backwards in a
way and connect with our neighbors. We need to get our kids back outside
playing with each other. We need to stop play dates and organized sports
at a young age. We adults need to get to know each other, and be childlike in
our approach to life. We need to laugh, be silly, have fun, and be happy to see
each other. Smile at everyone you see. Be kind. Help each other.
Depression/anxiety. It is a wonder not every single child has it.
Us adults make this world a very depressing and anxiety ridden place to be. We
talk so negatively about so many things. Stress, pressure, the holidays, the
bills, the people, OH, the awful people in this world. We vent, and complain,
and back stab and argue and walk around tired and mopey. Or, we drink too much
or shop too much or eat too much.
WE are not being good role models. We are often totally
hypocritical and it is only going to change when we change it.
We need to stop complaining about Facebook. There are millions of
amazing pages that are inspiring and insightful and interesting and funny. If
you don’t like what you are seeing, you can control that. You get to choose
what you see. We are not victims. We are free to decide. We need to teach the
kids how to use Facebook in a very fun and creative way. If not Facebook,
Instagram or twitter or snap chat, or whatever. None of it is bad, if we all
teach our kids, by example, how to be nice.
If we do just what we are doing now, things will remain in this
vicious cycle. We are born happy, we slowly become over whelmed and think life
is hard. We may start to see that we could have done it differently but it
seems too daunting, and then, we die. But, we can actually realize, that if we
all, or mostly all, work together, we actually can make a very real, and
powerful and positive change.
The big point is, we need to be united. We need to raise our
families to be friends with all the other families. We don’t’ need to have the
same view points, but we need to be respectful and kind. We need to all live as
we did in kindergarten, in regards to our relationships. We need to teach our
children to continue to love each other, and play together, and us adults are
the only ones who can make the change. We can. We actually can. We could create
a grass roots movement that comes up with a plan and goes around educating the
younger generation how to do it better than it has been done. We can educate
ourselves on how to break this cycle, and then teach others how to do it. It
would all be volunteer and on our own time. No money needed, only time and
passion to see a wonderful change. Or, as a small step in the right direction,
just start only sharing positive things on Facebook. Share the message that you
are going to be nice to everyone, from now on. Be the one who shares the
positive messages – that have nothing to do with organized religion, and
everything to do with inclusion and acceptance, and love. Stop yourself if you
start to complain about your day, or your co-worker, or your neighbor, or
anything. Tell yourself the stuff you tell your kids. Get very familiar with
what being hypocritical is, and make it your daily mission to learn how not to
do it. We were all kids once. We were all so happy and cute and loving. We
still are!!! Kids are amazing, and we are amazing!!! People are not bad. This
world is not filled with bad people. It may be filled with scared and confused
people, but we are those people. WE are it!!
About being hypocritical:
About learning how not to be:
It's
so easy to judge others or dish out advice you never plan to follow. The
problem is, you're just showing others you're a hypocrite. Many people don't
even realize they're being a hypocrite until someone points it out. The problem
is, once you do know, how do you stop? With a little self-awareness, it's
actually fairly easy to stop being a hypocrite.
1. STOP
TALKING ABOUT OTHERS
Hypocrites are well known for bad
mouthing others behind their backs. They pretend to be friends, but then talk
about the person behind their back. Trust me, the other person will find out.
Odds are, you'll end up losing the trust of everyone around you in the process.
An easy to stop the hypocrite cycle is to simply stop saying bad things about
people unless you're willing to say it to the person's face.
2.
FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE
Telling others what they should
and shouldn't do is great as long as you're willing to take the same advice.
Many hypocrites love giving out advice and it's often good advice too. The
problem is, they rarely follow it themselves. Listen to your own words when
talking to others. Could you benefit as well? Are you asking someone else to
make a positive change? Consider doing the same thing so you serve as a good
example to others.
3. STICK
TO YOUR BELIEFS AND OPINIONS
It's fine to change your mind,
but it's hypocritical to randomly change your beliefs and opinions to fit in
with what others say or do. Many hypocrites tend to be very vocal about their
opinions, but they never actually stand by those opinions. To them, it's more
about politics than having real beliefs. Sit down and figure out what you
believe in and stand by it no matter what others say.
4. DON'T
JUDGE WITHOUT FACTS
How many of us watch a news story
and immediately judge the people without any real facts? Hypocrites love to
judge others and they don't really care whether all the facts are in or not. I
struggle with this one sometimes as I tend to judge based on a first
impression. However, how do I know what the other person is going through? It
pays to reserve judgment until you know more about someone.
5.
REMEMBER YOU'RE NOT PERFECT
While not all hypocrites think
they're perfect, many do. They're ready to call out others on every mistake,
but somehow they forget about all the mistakes they've made. Honestly, call a
hypocrite out and watch how quickly they seem to have developed amnesia. Before
you start condemning others, think about the skeletons in your own closet. No
one is perfect and remembering that helps you stop being a hypocrite.
6. ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY
Odds are, you've seen classmates
or co-workers who always place blame on others. They hardly get anything done,
but by passing the blame on to someone else, they make themselves look better.
Avoid being a hypocrite by taking responsibility for your own actions. You
didn't study and failed a test? Don't point out that someone else did worse
than you. Instead, accept you made a mistake and focus on doing better next
time.
7. LEARN
SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW
Many hypocrites believe they're always
smarter than everyone else. Sometimes it takes being in a situation where you
know nothing to make you stop being a hypocrite. Try taking a class or learning
a new skill from an expert. It's a humbling experience and makes you feel like
a normal person. Do this regularly and you'll notice yourself becoming less of
a hypocrite.
8. ASK FOR HELP
It's hard to stop doing something
if you don't realize you're doing it. Ask your closest friends and family to
point out when you're being hypocritical. It'll hurt at first, but you'll
create strong bonds by doing it. Ask them what you did wrong and how you could
do it differently. It'll take some time, but it does work. Only do this with
people you truly trust to ensure you're being guided in the right direction.
9. STOP LYING
I have to admit that I'm a little
jealous of major hypocrites. They're so incredibly creative when it comes to
lying. They put so much conviction behind it. The idea, of course, is to always
show themselves in the best light. However, others know you're lying. Avoid
playing the hypocrite and just be honest. Even if it makes you look bad, others
will appreciate the honesty.
We're all guilty of being
hypocrites from time to time, but if it's a chronic problem, try paying
attention to your actions. It is possible to change and you'll notice a vast
improvement in your relationships as a result. Do your friends consider you to
be a hypocrite?
