“If you invite negativity in, you have to feed it and hang out with it. Best not to invite it.”

Erikah Badu

 

I couldn’t agree more.

It can be easy and comfortable to stay in the negative spaces.

Frequently: when it rains, it often pours.

Badu serves a great metaphor.  What ever is part of your inner world ; reflects a certain focus and care.

Nowadays, I really keep away.

I feel my skin crawl when I come across dismaying thoughts or negative sayings.

It used to be different for me.

During a certain period in my life; I lived with negativity. I entertained it routinely.

Before I began to cultivate conscious efforts, when things got dark: I adjusted to the gloomy life.  Adventuring out to look for light or a healthy direction felt quite intimidating.

Back then, I thought my opinion was a truly needed life observation, something like a responsibility or an important contribution. 

Hence, I shared most of my negative perceptions concerning others.

 

Bach then and still today; I love many people. 

Some of the individuals I love: live and juggle negativity.

At times around them; I cringe. I don’t believe they are even aware of their poisoned culture.

Occasionally, I must remind myself to step back and neglect the invites.

I have learned that negative energy does not only occupy and influence my focus; it’s also contagious.

I recently shared a meal with someone really special. Sitting at a table with four chairs: my friend and I ordered a single drink. Still, her negative spills were way too many.

She leaked poor words, shared a bitter attitude and a cynical perception. The pessimistic vibes got me distracted: it was definitely contagious.

Since the beginning of time; several great teachers have shared and demonstrated this idea.

Whatever you focus on; will grow.

Wo.

Slow down for a minute.

This can be a delicate and tricky principle to abide.  I know.

Cause real talk: it’s important to properly address grief or anger, jealousy or any emotion for that matter.

Also, some feelings tend to remain in our realms for some time.

Even if they are uninvited.

Hmmm.

How to know when we examine too long? When exactly does it becomes dwelling?

I’m not sure.

I believe it’s probably more about finding a balance. Some time spent acknowledging our thoughts and more spent cultivating others ideas. Our feelings don’t have all the power; our awareness does.

My thoughts used to coincide with my emotions.

I’d interact with them and nourish my sentiments, like Badu says.

Somewhere along that ride; because my emotions were ruling my life, I desired a change.

My research suggested to place my attention on specific energies.

Love, peace and forgiveness. 

So that’s what I did.

Day after day, I observed and acknowledged my emotions but fed the positive and graceful energies.

I placed the negative loads in my “love, pray and healing mental basket”.

Hence; I can recall feeling uncertain on how exactly this basket would evolve.

So I searched for answers. I spent hours looking through all the positive insights I could find.

Somehow; my basket transformed into a marvelous peaceful life mark. It’s all part of me; but I came to terms with it.

So I  now carefully invite: only selected forces.

I don’t speak ill. I don’t cultivate despise and I wish to select kindness and peace in my every day’s thoughts and actions.

Two beautiful energies. I invite them in, repeatedly.

Some nights, I admit: I feed them a handful of chocolate almonds.

It’s their favorite.

Since we hang out, I also grab a few.

You know: social eating.