This morning, I was reading Debbie Ford’s Newsletter and was struck by some beautiful words she had included by Goethe. It reminded me that we are one with the outcomes in our lives. Whatever we experience in life we co-create. Even when we are dealt with surprises–how we choose to react, how we reframe the event, how we turn it into an asset, how we take it as a lesson, how we use it to teach others and learn ourlseves–all these create our experiences. We are one with our results. Here is the writing by Goethe:
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element.
It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.
If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.
If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
German novelist and philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
It’s just gone 6am, I am sitting in my libary. I look over at the newly installed computer and read these words. What a wonderful way to start my day . Feeling connected from rural Nova Scotia…Charles
Thanks for these eloquent words or reminder Lance. Goethe’s quote brings to mind 2 things for me:
Even though I aspire to live the CASTLE Principles I sometimes forget to “test” them on myself instead of attempting to “fix” others by getting them to be more CASTLE-like. Goethe reminds/rehearts me to deal with myself first and come from a healing, loving, serving place if I want to heal, love, and serve the world.
Second, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes/stories: A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: “Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time.” When asked which dog wins he reflected for a moment and replied, “The one I feed the most.” (author unknown). So I do my best to “check in” and see if I’m feeding the CASTLE Principles in myself or not.
Peace, Shonnie