WHAT IF THEY GAVE A WAR AND NOBODY CAME?
Is that even possible?
Decades ago, for no reason I could put my finger on, I experienced a life-shifting moment of spiritual awakening. I know this sounds cliché, but it was like an inner light turned on.
Abruptly, I was filled with an out-of-the-ordinary feeling: Compassion.
This was a new sensation for someone who lived in anger, judgmentalness and annoyance most of the time. Okay, all the time.
This feeling expanded toward everyone. Even people I had divorced from my life long ago. Even bullies. Yes, even those who manipulate, torment, and terrorize others for their own gain.
Since so much attention is placed on bullying lately, I thought I’d throw in my two cents. I’m calling it bullying, but what I’m really talking about is war. That extreme anger that makes us feel the need to destroy others to defend ourselves, our territory, our possessions. To prove we are right and make sure we are survive no matter what.
Back to bullies. My insight was that bullies are just afraid. They choose to cover up their fear by pretending to look powerful. They believe that generating fear in others will keep them safe and then no one will find out they are terrified. And weak. And lost. And needy.
Honestly, bullies are more overwhelmingly scared than most of us.
The awakening I had allowed me to understand that, like everyone else, bullies desperately want love. The problem is a subconscious part of them believes they don’t deserve to be loved. Granted, we all have that notion to some degree, but bullies are drowning in it.
Once I grasped that, my anger toward bulliers diffused. I was able to forgive those who had bullied me as well as the many who used bullying tactics everywhere. My compassion multiplied.
My own teachings about mirrors hit me in the face, reminding that bullies reflect something inside that’s suppressed and denied. It was difficult to admit such a repelling mirror, but practicing what I preach is my motto.
Rule of Thumb about mirrors – when a button is pushed there is always a mirror to see and there are no exceptions or loopholes.
Blech.
I had to admit that there was a teeny tiny very remote part of me that had some bullying qualities. They show up when my adorable dog starts crazy barking at our neighbor who she loves. Or when I read the news, and notice thoughts like how could anyone feel the way they do about a certain presidential candidate? Or when I feel immense pleasure at beating someone who consistently defeats me at Scrabble.
OUR WAR CONSCIOUSNESS
These past few years have been challenging to keep an open heart. Watching the senseless bullying and destruction going on in two (or is it three?) wars, I think about past leaders waging thousands of years of war, framing it as justified, necessary. They use their bully pulpit to convince people to take sides and jump headlong into a killing machine.
Humans are still functioning from what I call “war consciousness.” That’s the survival-based part of us that has us agree that war is necessary, so it continues. It’s the accepted reality of the world that when you get triggered, you fight. When someone causes you pain, you retaliate. When something gets taken from you, you feel justified getting it back using any means necessary. Etc.
IMHO, war and violence will continue until enough of us understand mirroring. That translates to seeing and admitting our own “war consciousness” -- our instant reaction toward violence when something bothers us, feeling justified to do so and victorious when we do especially when others agree with our choice.
Yes, war might result eventually in a cease fire, or a “victory,” but war will reappear when the next thing happens that triggers us.
I get it. It would be difficult watching one’s territory or possessions get stolen. Yes, it would be challenging seeing buildings bombed for no reason. Yes, it would be hard to accept an invasion by a country, a neighbor, a robber.
SOME WHAT IF’S
But what if we weren’t attached to any of those things? What if we saw that there is enough for everyone? What if we could share space with others without feeling invaded? What if we absolutely knew that material possessions are not who we are or what we are about?
What if we knew, really, that there are no winners in war?
My questions have never felt more urgent as bombs continue to explode and leaders never question the workability of war. Afterall, fighting has been going on since the beginning of our claim to territory and possessions.
The expression from the ‘60’s recites in my brain: What if they gave a war and nobody came?
The only answer is to resolve our denied, suppressed inner bully. It is the part of us that reacts with fury when feeling insulted. Or rage at others while driving. Or threatens a child when they don’t obey. Or violently berates us when we do something stupid. That’s the big one.
If we didn’t have that primitive, survival-based trait inside us, no one would be compelled to take up arms and go to war, assassinate someone or murder someone who triggered us.
Once we realize that we are spirits with one Core Purpose: Giving and receiving love -- our reality will shift completely.
Watching wars and violence continue, endlessly, those subconscious bullies are having their way with us. It inspires me to stay focused on the imperative truth to understand what’s being reflected. Admitting mirrors takes willingness. But it provides instant compassion.
As I always say, the more people that commit to discovering their inner bully, the more that energy will spread until war no longer exists.
The gift of discovering your inner bully inspires you to clean up what you have allowed it to do. Find that classmate you bullied relentlessly and apologize. Email your ex and acknowledge things you did that came from triggered reactiveness. Thank your boss for showing your competitive mirrors. And how about writing to that politician and explain mirroring to them!
Every bomb that is dropped can awaken suppressed memories of things you have done. Vow to awaken you higher consciousness, self-forgiveness and love.
Doing this will create inner peace.
Peace that is the core of consciousness itself.
Enough of us doing this will create peace on this planet. War will be looked back on as something we did back in the day when we were still unconscious, asleep, still functioning from fear rather than love.
And, a reminder from the ‘60’s: “What if they gave a war and nobody came?”
Be a weapon of mass compassion.
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It’s time to shift that war consciousness/bully subconsciously running your life! Reach out to Royce and sign up for her next ten week “Transforming Self Sabotage” course to evolve from fear to love in the Perfect Life Awakening program.
Watch Royce’s podcast on OM Times Media, livestreaming every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. PT or linked on You Tube.