In order to create a peaceful world, we must learn to practice nonviolence with one another in our day today interactions.
Day 29 – FORGIVENESS (Feb. 27)
When we forgive, we are free t o let go of the past and move on wit h our lives. We do not condone the hurtful behavior but we realize that there is something within us that is more powerful and important than this wounding experience. Today, write a letter to forgive someone. You do not have to mail it.
Day 30 – AMENDS (Feb. 28)
Make amends today. Apologize to someone you may have hurt and mean your apology sincerely.
Day 31 – PRAISING (March 1)
Appreciation helps people to grow and lets them know that they matter. Offer praise to at least three people today for their personal qualities, achievements, or helpful service.
Day 32 – PATIENCE (March 2)
According t o Cesar Chavez, "Nonviolence is not inaction...It is hard work...It is the patience t o win." When your plans seem delayed, choose to be patient by identifying at least three ways that you can constructively use this time to support your goal.
Day 33 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (March 3)
Tell someone today what a difference he or she has made in your life. Acknowledge that person for being there for you. Make this a day when you don't take people for granted.
Day 34 – LOVE (March 4)
Gandhi wrote, "Nonviolence is based on the assumption that human nature.... unfailingly responds to the advances of love." Today, focus on what you appreciate most about the person you like the least.
Day 35 – UNDERSTANDING (March 5)
Thich Nhat Hanh says, "When you understand, you cannot help but love...Practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion." Send a silent thought of love to ten people today. Share your experience wit h someone.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Season for Nonviolence, Week 4
“The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage they did not know they had.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day 22 – MISSION (Feb. 20)
"My life is my message. " says Gandhi. Write down what you want to stand for in your life. Note at least one way you can show through action that you stand for your beliefs. Take t his action today.
Day 23 – PRAYER (Feb. 21)
"Prayer from the heart can achieve what nothing else in the world can." said Gandhi. Begin and end the day with a prayer for peace. Let peace begin with you.
Day 24 – HARMONY (Feb. 22)
Choosing not to engage in any for m of gossip today contributes to harmony and peace in relationships. Today, choose to see the good in others rather than finding fault.
Day 25 – FRIENDLINESS (Feb. 23)
To humorist Will Rogers, strangers were simply friends he hadn't met. View those you encounter today in that light. Make a new acquaintance.
Day 26 – RESPECT (Feb. 24)
Gandhi taught, "Language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.” Today, respect yourself and others be choosing not to use any profanity or "put downs."
Day 27 – GENEROSITY (Feb. 25)
Mother Theresa said, "There is a hidden poverty more pervasive than lack of money. It is the poverty of the heart." Find three ways to generously give of your time, attention and resources to others.
Day 28 – LISTENING (Feb. 26)
Today, stop what you are doing and take five minutes to list en to the feelings behind someone's words to you. Be fully present for the conversation and interested in what the person is saying.
Day 22 – MISSION (Feb. 20)
"My life is my message. " says Gandhi. Write down what you want to stand for in your life. Note at least one way you can show through action that you stand for your beliefs. Take t his action today.
Day 23 – PRAYER (Feb. 21)
"Prayer from the heart can achieve what nothing else in the world can." said Gandhi. Begin and end the day with a prayer for peace. Let peace begin with you.
Day 24 – HARMONY (Feb. 22)
Choosing not to engage in any for m of gossip today contributes to harmony and peace in relationships. Today, choose to see the good in others rather than finding fault.
Day 25 – FRIENDLINESS (Feb. 23)
To humorist Will Rogers, strangers were simply friends he hadn't met. View those you encounter today in that light. Make a new acquaintance.
Day 26 – RESPECT (Feb. 24)
Gandhi taught, "Language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.” Today, respect yourself and others be choosing not to use any profanity or "put downs."
Day 27 – GENEROSITY (Feb. 25)
Mother Theresa said, "There is a hidden poverty more pervasive than lack of money. It is the poverty of the heart." Find three ways to generously give of your time, attention and resources to others.
Day 28 – LISTENING (Feb. 26)
Today, stop what you are doing and take five minutes to list en to the feelings behind someone's words to you. Be fully present for the conversation and interested in what the person is saying.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Season for Nonviolence, Week 3
By practicing nonviolence with ourselves, we begin to see how it might apply toward others. Each personal practice can be turned into a practice toward another. Try it.
Day 15 – REVERENCE (Feb. 13)
Environmentalist John Muir said, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." Today, go for a walk and realize t he beauty around, above and below you.
Day 16 – GRATITUDE (Feb. 14)
On her show Oprah Winfrey frequently promotes the daily practice of gratitude. Begin the day by listing five things for which you are grateful and end it by sharing with one person all of the good in your life today.
Day 17 – INTEGRITY (Feb. 15)
Do the right thing. Spike Lee used these words as a title for one of his movies. When faced with a choice today, listen to your conscience. You know what's right. Do it.
Day 18 – FREEDOM (Feb. 16)
Civil rights activist Diane Nash said, “Freedom, by definition, is people realizing that they are their own leader s." Take a leadership role today in your own life. Find one way you can be more expressive of who you truly are.
Day 19 – ACCEPTANCE (Feb. 17)
"Resentment, fear, criticism, and guilt cause more problems than anything else, " says Louise Hay. Today, choose not to judge yourself (your looks, your capabilities, your expressions). See all t he ways you are unique, loving, capable and bright!
Day 20 – SELF FORGIVENESS (Feb. 18)
When you judge yourself, you tend to believe that who you are is what you have or don't have. Knowing that who you are is greater than all these things, today, forgive yourself for forgetting the good that is in you.
Day 21 – INSPIRATION (Feb. 19)
Think of at least two people who exemplify for you the practice of nonviolence. What is it you admire about them? Practice these behaviors today so that other people may be inspired.
Day 15 – REVERENCE (Feb. 13)
Environmentalist John Muir said, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." Today, go for a walk and realize t he beauty around, above and below you.
Day 16 – GRATITUDE (Feb. 14)
On her show Oprah Winfrey frequently promotes the daily practice of gratitude. Begin the day by listing five things for which you are grateful and end it by sharing with one person all of the good in your life today.
Day 17 – INTEGRITY (Feb. 15)
Do the right thing. Spike Lee used these words as a title for one of his movies. When faced with a choice today, listen to your conscience. You know what's right. Do it.
Day 18 – FREEDOM (Feb. 16)
Civil rights activist Diane Nash said, “Freedom, by definition, is people realizing that they are their own leader s." Take a leadership role today in your own life. Find one way you can be more expressive of who you truly are.
Day 19 – ACCEPTANCE (Feb. 17)
"Resentment, fear, criticism, and guilt cause more problems than anything else, " says Louise Hay. Today, choose not to judge yourself (your looks, your capabilities, your expressions). See all t he ways you are unique, loving, capable and bright!
Day 20 – SELF FORGIVENESS (Feb. 18)
When you judge yourself, you tend to believe that who you are is what you have or don't have. Knowing that who you are is greater than all these things, today, forgive yourself for forgetting the good that is in you.
Day 21 – INSPIRATION (Feb. 19)
Think of at least two people who exemplify for you the practice of nonviolence. What is it you admire about them? Practice these behaviors today so that other people may be inspired.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Season for Nonviolence, Week 2
Personal centeredness gives us the inner peace and calm to respond to situations with nonviolent means. Building that inner center is the first act of peace making.
Day 8 – HEALING (Feb. 6)
Writer, poet, activist, and professor Maya Angelou turned a traumatic childhood experience into a catalyst for creativity and achievement. Today, choose a painful incident in your life and find the “gift” it has given you. Consciously share this gift with others today.
Day 9 –DREAMING (Feb. 7)
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a great dream. What is your dream for peace? Write it down. What is one thing you can do to honor your dreams? Do it today.
Day 10 – FAITH (Feb. 8)
When Cesar Chavez was organizing farm workers, he challenged them to say, "Si, se puede" (yes, it is possible) when they didn't know how they would overcome obstacles. Today say, "yes, it is possible, " even if you don't know how your goal will be realized. Have faith, and say "it is possible” until you find, or are shown, a way.
Day 11 – CONTEMPLATION (Feb. 9)
For at least three minutes, relax, breathe, and let your mind be fed by "whatsoever is good and beautiful and just." Sacred scripture states, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. "
Day 12 – GROUNDEDNESS (Feb. 10)
Gandhi said, "To forget how to dig the earth and t end the soil is to forget ourselves. " And Black Elk said, "Some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds." Today place a seed in the earth, plant a tree or nurture an open space.
Day 13 – CREATIVITY (Feb. 11)
The worst thing you can do to a human soul is to suppress its natural desire to create. Identify at least five ways in which you express your creativity everyday. Today, allow something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.
Day 14 – HUMILITY (Feb. 12)
Making mistakes is a part of learning and growing, simply an "error in approach." Today, freely acknowledge at least one mistake you made today, and reflect for a couple of minutes on what you have learned.
Day 8 – HEALING (Feb. 6)
Writer, poet, activist, and professor Maya Angelou turned a traumatic childhood experience into a catalyst for creativity and achievement. Today, choose a painful incident in your life and find the “gift” it has given you. Consciously share this gift with others today.
Day 9 –DREAMING (Feb. 7)
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a great dream. What is your dream for peace? Write it down. What is one thing you can do to honor your dreams? Do it today.
Day 10 – FAITH (Feb. 8)
When Cesar Chavez was organizing farm workers, he challenged them to say, "Si, se puede" (yes, it is possible) when they didn't know how they would overcome obstacles. Today say, "yes, it is possible, " even if you don't know how your goal will be realized. Have faith, and say "it is possible” until you find, or are shown, a way.
Day 11 – CONTEMPLATION (Feb. 9)
For at least three minutes, relax, breathe, and let your mind be fed by "whatsoever is good and beautiful and just." Sacred scripture states, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. "
Day 12 – GROUNDEDNESS (Feb. 10)
Gandhi said, "To forget how to dig the earth and t end the soil is to forget ourselves. " And Black Elk said, "Some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds." Today place a seed in the earth, plant a tree or nurture an open space.
Day 13 – CREATIVITY (Feb. 11)
The worst thing you can do to a human soul is to suppress its natural desire to create. Identify at least five ways in which you express your creativity everyday. Today, allow something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.
Day 14 – HUMILITY (Feb. 12)
Making mistakes is a part of learning and growing, simply an "error in approach." Today, freely acknowledge at least one mistake you made today, and reflect for a couple of minutes on what you have learned.
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