For some reason, this old saying stuck in my head this morning. While it began as an advertising term in the 20th century, I believe it actually has a much deeper meaning.
Each of us has a unique pattern and we are all human, and, therefore, the same (actually 99.9% in terms of our DNA). One of the ways in which we are very different from one another is in our astrological birth charts, as each of us is born in a different movement of the planets around the Sun. Our astrological chart gives us clues as to how we are going to view and experience the various parts of life such as self, family, relationship, work and spirituality, to name a few. These views and experiences, coupled with the way we were raised and our familial programming gives each of us a very specific to general perspective of life. I put the word perspective in bold to denote its powerful purpose in how each of us creates a universe within the one in which we all live.
Think about it for a moment. All of us have a way in which we believe life works, whether we are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Pagan, Spiritualist, Humanist or whatever your philosophical framework, the world seems to unfold based upon the perspectives of each of these belief structures. Well, that is until something happens that shakes your faith and requires an adjustment in your perspective. We don’t know what we don’t know is always going to be the largest piece in the pie of Life.
Think about the people in your life who are optimistic and the ones who are pessimistic. How does life play out for each of them? I would imagine the conversation with a pessimist would be something like, “Hi friend, how are you doing today?” and the pessimist responds, “Oh, you haven’t called in a few days, I wondered if we were still friends.” Think of Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, these are the ones who expect the worst in every moment and are only happy when they receive the negative reward of being right in a way no one should want to. These interactions usually leave everyone needing a shower to wash away the negativity. These people can keep us stuck in our old ways of being, but can be great catalysts when we start to see our own walls closing in.
On the other hand, the conversation with the optimist is one that is open to possibilities, is not littered with judgment and criticism and the interactions usually leave everyone feeling supported, loved and excited to make things happen. These are the people who are good to have in your life to support you in the changes you wish to make in life.
Many of us have a mixture of these working in our charts and therefore our lives. Our greatest challenge, as we grow older, is to remain open and not close down. Closing down and shutting off means that the wounds in life have become too much, or maybe they haven’t been tended as needed, or maybe it is simply the time to face and be with them, heal and release them.
There is great power in words. Words are spells that call forth anything into existence as well as end existence for anything. Be mindful of your words and the thoughts that support them. Use your words to support yourself and others, not to curse and cause harm. Do not call yourself an idiot, or stupid or any other derogatory term, because you are not any of those things; you are simply a human who made a mistake and gets to hopefully have a chance to make it right.
Leslie Nathanson, a brilliant astrologer and therapist here in Santa Fe said something to me a long time ago that remains a beautiful insight to me still, “When someone does something wrong, they have simply forgotten who they are. Have you ever forgotten who you are?” I love this because there is so much grace and simplicity in this perspective. If we can bring this compassion and grace to each of our individual awareness, just think of how the world could change. “An eye for an eye” becomes “A hug for a tear” and we all finally understand that we share more than we realize with our fellow brothers and sisters walking upon the earth.
Through our respective perspectives we get to see the world we individually and collectively create. If there is something you don’t like about your life or the world, change it. Start with the way you think about it, the way you feel about it and then do something about it. When you start to see these perspectives reflected back to you in your life, you will know that you have firmly anchored a new belief structure.
“What you see is what you get” is the ultimate perspective mantra. Upon what will you now focus? Each of us has the power to create a more loving world. It starts with each of us. We are here to learn and grow with one another and we can choose a new way to do this. I know I am here to work towards this new way of relating and you must be too if you are reading this -there are no coincidences.
Wishing you the best reflection of your perspectives,
Michael