Thinking differently about politics is my contribution to the Think Different Challenge. Politics used to take up a lot of my attention. In the past I would read something or hear something about a short-sighted politician and totally forget the purpose of my life. Instead of striving to be the best person I could be, I was taking great pride and satisfaction is denigrating those whom I deemed the most ignorant of the political world. But no more.

What made the change in me possible? It was a realization that I can’t grow as a human being if I put my focus on someone else’s shortcomings. As easy and as fun as it was, it was a distraction, and a convenient way to let myself off the hook.

Yes, I had forgotten the purpose of life. Surely we don’t go through all the challenges of life in a physical body just so we can criticize someone else. I look upon life as an opportunity to peel away the layers of impressions that veil infinite consciousness. I do this by focusing on the highest attributes of people, not the worst; I do it by seeing the Divine in people, not the folly.

Are there politicians out there who are real jackasses? Yes. (There I go again.) Is it my job to point this out to everybody? No. It’s not what I signed up for.

There is tremendous suffering in the world, and it is true that sometimes the suffering is a direct result of a political policy. But what good is it for me to get bent out of shape about it? I am not a journalist. I’m not a politician. I’m a personal development writer committed to helping people discover the treasure of the inner life.

It makes no difference to me what political party a person belongs to, or what a person’s nationality is, or what his or her religion is. The fact is, the world becomes a better place each time someone discovers the inner realities of existence. And this is happening every day. These people, scattered around the world, in different cultures and spiritual traditions, are seeds that will turn this bleak world of darkness into a vibrant New Humanity.

Consciousness is the only hope for humanity. For it is with consciousness that people recognize the sacredness of all life.

In the 20th century, it was pure madness that 100 million people died violent deaths at the hands of other humans. Can that be prevented in the 21st century? I don’t think the solution is people sitting around the dining room table pointing fingers. I think the only way is for more and more people to discover that we are all one. And that is only accomplished by turning perception inward. This alone brings about an awakening of consciousness.

The outside is a reflection of the inside. The urgent need of humanity is an inner one. If people are experiencing peace within, then the outside world will reflect that. The solution to war is not to be found in going around the world anti-war slogans. The solution is to create a level of universal consciousness where the idea of war would be incomprehensible to everyone.

A treaty can stop a war but until peace is found within everyone, war will return. Just look at the situation in the Middle East. The only way to bring peace to that region is through a major change in consciousness experienced by every single person. Otherwise the violence will continue. As Buddha once said, “Hatred never ends hatred. Only love ends hatred.”

I liked Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len’s approach to outer change, as explained in the book Zero Limits. He starts within. By cleansing himself internally, he is able to affect change in outwardly.

We are all connected to each other internally. We all have false identities created from the same false stuff. This false stuff is comprised of thought patterns, habit patterns, outer conditions, the environment, false beliefs, fear, phobias, insecurities, insufficiencies, strength or weakness, wealth or poverty, health or illness, success or failure. These identifications, however, are not who we are. We are beyond mind. We are formless. We are nothing but spirit having physical experiences in order to discover the infinity of being. How? By transcending the limitations of ego.

There is no need for me and all of my insufficiencies to call attention to those of some politician.

But if I can awaken love in myself by internal cleansing, by using awareness and consciousness, by exercising compassion and empathy, then that creates a whole new set of possibilities. For love is contagious. And it grows exponentially.

The only problem in the world is a veiling of consciousness. And the only solution to this problem is an unveiling.

As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see.”

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I wrote the above post after I was tagged by Tristan Loo of SynergyInstituteOnline.com to participate in the “Think Different Challenge, which is an online blogging/writing project started by Peter of IwillChangeYourLife.com.

The Think Different Challenge is all about finding something in your life you currently have negative thoughts or feelings towards (eg work or your mother-in-law), and deciding to look at it differently. It is about realizing that some things are just a part of life, so we may as well try to find the positives in them.

Who Can Participate?

This is an online writing project, so anyone who can publish text and active links on the internet can participate. Having your own website or blog is not a requirement, just write a post with links in your favorite social networking site.

The Rules

1. Write a new blog post in which you “think different”. Follow my suggestions above, or be a bit different and interpret the challenge the way you want.
2. State that the post is a part of the Think Different Challenge and include a link and/ or trackback to this post so that readers know the rules of the challenge. Feel free to use the above banner (inspired, of course, by Seth Godin).
3. Include a link and/ or trackback to the blogger who tagged you.
4. At the end of your post, go ahead and tag some fellow bloggers. Don’t forget to email them to let them know they have been tagged.
5. That’s it! Just sit back and enjoy reading peoples’ responses to the challenge.

In keeping with the spirit of the challenge, I’ve decided to tag the following:

healpain.blogspot.com

Compassionate Council

Myselfdev

PDSS Online

Middle Zone Musings

Robin’s Reflections

Yapp 3.0

Brain Based Biz

Difficult Relationships.com

Creative Think

Evomend

Parkinson’s Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy

Managing With Aloha Coaching

The Alpha Project

Personal Development for the Book Smart

Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

The Tune In.com