Positive Affirmation

Thomas Troward, in 'The Creative Process In The Individual' said: "The Principle of Life must of necessity be Affirmative, and affirmative throughout, without any negative anywhere -- if we once realize this we shall be able to unmask the enemy and silence his guns." He continues with " . . . to do this is precisely the one object of the Bible; and it does it in a thoroughly logical manner, always leading on to the ultimate result by successive links of cause and effect."

Troward goes on to describe: " . . . good and well-meaning people with a limited idea which they read into the Bible, preliminary to Resurrection. They grasp, of course the great central idea that Perfected Man possesses a joyous immortal Life permeating spirit, soul and body; but they relegate it to some dim and distant future, entirely disconnected from the present law of our being, not seeing that if we are to have eternal life it must necessarily be involved in some principle which is eternal, and therefore existing, at any rate latently, at the present moment. Hence though their fundamental principle is true, they are all the time mentally limiting it, and consequently the principle will work (as principles always do) in accordance with the conditions provided for its action" . . . .

We recognize 'affirmative' as positive, optimistic, true. In all human relationships, personal, communal, or worldwide, making attempts to shift someone else's perspective arises frequently - while raising children, teaching, arguing one's point in a courtroom, negotiating the terms of a contract, rallying in regard to a political matter. Allowing oneself to be consumed with righteous indignation in regard to any point of view becomes some kind of key toxic variable in any conflict. Why not attempt to have a perspective, share that perspective, and be comfortable with the fact that others have a different view? Is it not possible to state clearly and believe in our own ideas without becoming autonomically aroused enough to fling verbal insults at someone whose opinion or appearance is different, commit retaliatory acts of vandalism, or publicly ridicule or attack others? Are these behaviors not negatively driven?

What then drives us to create, to work, to make an ethical mark on the world - in our families or our communities our classrooms? Peace and love? Tolerance? Awareness? Presence of mind?

Conceptually, most of us realize that optimistic, positive truth serves well in every situation. We know that peaceful mediation frequently solves differences of opinion. Before indulging in any negative expression, judgmental or otherwise, quietly consider facts already in evidence, and, understanding that truth does not exist only in the mind's eye, proceed toward an affirmative solution. Understanding that truth is not from thoughts, but in perspective . . . is a difficult to describe but workable construct, having elements of feelings and thoughts and attitude. The perspective results from framing reality. And reality responds. That's the truth.

Maintaining a positive perspective? Tricky business, indeed. A change in thinking will not necessarily work. Frequently, REAL feelings and thoughts are stuffed or diverted or ignored. They are still there -- decisions to acknowledge only some thoughts and feelings can make the avoidance of real ones stronger. Then, having no conscious realization that they exist, everything in our worlds may be set up and changed. Quickly, chaos and negativity are present, and how is this possible? We had decided to be affirmatively joyous!

Modern day gurus and enlightenment speakers admonish being fully present in the moment, feeling the body and its feelings, observe and allow, without becoming those. In other words, allowing whatever conditioned garbage is there to BE without stuffing or diverting. Taking a deep breath and coming from a place of love for and acceptance of everything - even the sad parts which are creating the negativity in our lives. Not sympathy or anger or even empathy for those parts. Just presence and the knowledge that WE ARE NOT SIMPLY OUR STORIES. Each day is an unwritten page. What ensues in our lives is always created in this subtle, amorphous place of perspective.