I had an odd experience the other day: someone called me a saint for doing what I do with Vibe Shifting. It was… weird. I didn’t know whether to laugh or to be disturbed. Because that type of thing has happened a few times now; I’ve been called a “guru” and an “angel” before, too. And I gotta tell you, I’m not all that comfortable with it. Because I’m not any of the above. I’m just a person who has been through an awful lot in life, and still found a way to get through it all to a place of happiness.
For those of us who have been through a lot, and survived and become stronger for it, it becomes important at some point to be able to help others through their own difficulties. We know from experience that no matter how dark it seems in the moment, there is always a light ahead, and if our own experiences can make the path easier for others, then there’s almost a compulsion to do whatever we can to ease the journey.
The miracle of the thing
About eighteen years ago, back when I was working on my first university degree, I remember taking a walk with a friend. It was one of those “deep conversation” walks where we swapped life stories and stuff. And I remember her shaking her head as she turned to look at me, and she said: “The miracle of the thing is that you’re still such an amazing, nice person. Because if I’d been through what you have, I wouldn’t be.” At the time, I thought it was a very strange thing to say, but it’s something that I’ve thought about a lot over the course of the years.
What is it about me that allowed me to live through everything I had up to that point, and everything that has happened since, and still think the world is a beautiful place? Why is it that I am still able to see the good and the beauty in people, and why is that I am able to bounce back after each new trauma? I think part of it is in what my father taught me, not in words, but in the way he lived his life: bad things may happen, and you may not be able to control it. And when these things happen, they will either make you bitter, or they will make you stronger. But that choice is always yours to make.
And the other part is my own experience. I’ve learned the hard way that the way I think about things has a HUGE impact on what happens in my life. I wasn’t always so positive; as a child, I was often accused of being a pessimistic perfectionist. I had to learn to let that go, and to deliberately start looking for the silver lining in every cloud, because it’s always there. No matter how bad a situation is, there is always something that you can learn from it, or something good that comes out of it. You just have to look for it.
It’s not magic, it’s a choice
There’s nothing magical about it, and it has nothing to do with saints and angels. I’m just human, just like you. I’ve done things in my life that I’m not proud of. I make mistakes. I still get angry and impatient. Sometimes I’m even outright bitchy and petty (it happens). But I’ve learned not to constantly beat myself up over any of it. Everybody has “off” days, and we need to be patient with each other and ourselves when those days happen.
I’m not a saint; I’m not an angel; I’m not a guru. I’m just me. But if anything that I’ve written or said through this platform has the power to help another person, then I know that whatever I’ve been through has served a greater purpose. And for that, I will always be truly grateful.
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I hear you, sister, I mean, angel. You light the path for others and make them see things through their narrow vision, therefore you are a guru. You are self-realized, because you know about the forces of the universe, how they work and the fact that one needs to chill in life. These posts get better and better! I must say!
I can understand Emerson’s quote in that I know my next life will be a smoother one having lived this one. You, like my husband, may not choose to come back at all, since you may choose to move on to higher levels and experience those, with the other gurus, and not dilly-dally at this level with mostly new souls, you know?
I think your friend in college said that because she did not know of LOA or spiritual practice, because it is experiences that are important in this dimension and raise one up spiritually. To not grow and expand from experiences would make one stagnant, bitter, mean, bitchy (not just on occasion) and, well, like my mom, but that is another story. I recently met a girl who has it all and she complains constantly about not having a job right now, how everyone has one, even the bad, not qualified people, what the others are doing and how they get stuff, etc. etc., etc. instead of being grateful for all that she has, and she freaking has the package. Health, great looks, money, and wonderful marriage, awesome parents, a lovely house, trips, you name it she has it. I believe she is where she is because she is not grateful. Complaining never gets anyone anything in the long-term. The squeaky wheel gets the grease in the beginning, but them we change wheels, no? Her negativity makes my husband and me not hang out with her nor do we feel bad for her either. I am just saying that being grateful is the prerequisite of LOA. Not being grateful gets you in quite a mess, like it did me, so there you have it.
Angles are guides and office solace and peace in the midst of storms and that makes you one, Nathalie. We need to be reminded that clouds have silver linings and there is a reason for everything. Thanks!
How about we put it this way: in the life of every individual, there are times when one has the opportunity/ability to act in such a way as to make the world a better place, whether in small ways or in big ways. What we do with our experiences — and by extension, what we do with our lives — is a choice.
What I like about Emerson’s quote is that it reminds us that that there is more to success than what the outside world sees of you. Success is not always measured in wealth or fame. Sometimes, the greatest impact you can have in the world is in your ability to rekindle the spirit in other souls; in your ability to make the world a better place than it was when you got here. And it doesn’t have to be big splashy things… sometimes the smallest things can have enormous ripple effects. This is why I’m so big on people following their passion and building their dreams… your greatest ability to add to that ripple effect is through the things that matter most to you; that’s where your greatest energy and greatest gift to the world are to be found and set free. That’s how you make your most important contribution to all that is.
Nathalie,
Any tips on how we can come across and bring into our life more angels rather than devilish characters?
Look for them, of course. 🙂
As always, focus on what you want rather than what you don’t want. If you want to find people with the energy you consider “angelic”, then start focusing on that, and do whatever you can to put yourself in that vibe, and start giving out that same energy, too. Be the change, as they say. As you do, you’ll start drawing more of that to you.
With that energy that you describe, I am sure it will keep away those devilish characters who act as leeches to others, right? In particular, I have an uncle who takes advantage of my mom all the time and manipulates her into giving him everything, while he gives nothing in return, ever for the past 30 years. When he approaches me with stuff I just ignore him, so he has stayed away from me. I know, I have bad family experiences, what can I say. It is amazing I am not worse off than I am. I have been trying to change this, but it is hard.
I got so upset with this uncle because he upset my mom, even though my mom has caused me grief in the past. It is hard to make situations neutral, as LOA says. They are just situations, after all. But I think when our Inner Being signals us to stay away from certain people, we should heed those signals, for they are telling us something that serves us and that is the whole point, right? I understand that those who harm others have issues and are in great pain themselves, but should they not take care of that and seek help rather than cause all this grief around them? Spiritual practice does say to not be a doormat and to respect yourself first and foremost. These are interesting topics.
Of course they “should” take care of that, but keep in mind that not everybody has the insight to realize that 1) there is a problem, and 2) that it can be solved. If that awareness is not yet there, then the individual will keep going with that cycle of pain and frustration. If that energy bothers you, then it’s up to you to find ways to deal with it on your own terms. You either need to be stable enough in your own vibration that the other person can’t bring you down (in which case they’ll either shift their own vibe or they’ll avoid you completely), or you avoid that person as much as you reasonably can, so that you don’t have to deal with it. It’s harder when it’s family because there are a lot of emotional tangles and stuff from the past that tend to mess up your ability to stabilize yourself at that higher level. There’s nothing like family for pushing buttons. 😉