In the Midst of Reality: Mindset Compilations

By C.L. Harmon

A book that speaks to every generation sharing the reality of life experiences in a positive while uniquely frank design. It's a perspective that encompasses spirituality, religion, nature and philosophy, but does not exclude any individual from experiencing the messages relayed in the writings regardless of their beliefs, culture or origin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491814710

Book preview

1

Most of the time we lose; in fact, it’s a rarity that we win at all when we review life on a daily basis. Almost all of which we become involved is a challenge. Unfortunately those challenges come from all sides, corners, the top and the bottom. We, however, are not equipped to see all that is coming our way from every vantage point at the same time and so therefore we often fall in defeat to those challenges.

It’s a difficult notion to accept since winning almost always seems as though it should be ours, but still in the end we are still reminded that it remains elusive much of the time.

But perhaps winning and losing are simply abstract ideas valued only in their purpose for creating our perception of life and not the quality of it.

Maybe the only way to win—the only way anyone wins—is through the perceptions of what life is actually to them regardless of the outcome of the challenges. Perhaps outcomes are merely the distractions which separate those living a life from those simply existing as a part of it.

2

Any action that must need a lie, in part or as a whole, to be completed is an action that will have consequences. What is not often considered when a lie is born, is when those consequences will return.

All lies live until replaced by the truth. But it may take years before those truths are discovered, long after the person who created the lie is gone from our lives. So quite often, the innocent will be affected by the damage caused from the deception.

Even when a falsehood is created with the best of intentions, it will still exist, growing in darkness until the truth is revealed. The truth is not always a positive word or declaration and certainly not easy to accept, but it is complete when spoken. There is none to be added, none to be taken away and nothing left to haunt those who come after us.

The truth is the end and the beginning, whereas a lie is only the beginning. As long as it lives, it will spread dark deception until it finally finds its end in the light of the truth.

3

It seems we spend a great amount of our lives picking up the pieces of broken dreams, hearts and hopes that sometimes belong to us and other times belong to those we care about.

It is as though we are all pieces of a puzzle that long to connect with each other in an effort to be completed or whole. I can think of no other definition that explains the internal unity we feel towards others.

Perhaps it is out of this need that qualities like compassion and kindness toward others are born and hopefully from these we can truly become a million pieces of the same picture.

Violence has never built a lasting dynasty but the forgiveness of violence built an empire of faith that still stands. An act of violence is not a solution for the world’s problem anymore than vengeance can replace what is taken from its victims.

When we use violence we are not using the best of ourselves but instead a weaker part that has forgotten peace radiates outward after having originated from within.

4

When did we stop thinking for ourselves? When did we let policy become our master and integrity the slave? There are always exceptions to the rule. The law states that one cannot take human life, but then allows the exception of self-preservation within that law.

Even our grammar rules have exceptions and they do so because someone questioned why the rule had to be one way as opposed to another way. When we accept anything as it is given or spoken to us then we become a mindless society governed by policies that may not serve our best interests and those of our children.

Following the rules should never be an absolute. No policy is perfect and will always reflect the flaws of humanity which created it. Therefore it should always and consistently be questioned and re-evaluated to better serve both the cause for which it was designed and those affected by its initiation.

We must never assume that policy is right or just and always scrutinize every policy which affects us, no matter how small. We must do this or we give policy makers the right to determine many, if not all, aspects of our lives.

5

Many times we hear that we need to choose a side, pick a team, know where we stand and not stand in the middle of the road. Perhaps though, it is in the middle of the road where we should all strive to walk the path of life.

Now consider the best vantage point to see both sides of any issue. Wouldn’t the middle be the best location in which to not only step away and see the ideas more clearly, but also to give us the view to get a better understanding of the side in which we find disagreement? Does not standing firm in the middle show that we believe in compromise and humanity’s ability to find peaceful solutions? Does it not allow us to approach either side without hostility and be welcomed as we are not considered an enemy?

By walking the central path between issues does not compromise our values or moral convictions because those should be with us no matter where we stand. But it does allow us to know that where we stand can always be a place where opposing sides can approach us and be heard with an open mind and heart. The middle is and has always been the place where people meet to become the only side.

6

T hrough our practice of such acts like kindness and understanding we learn that acts of giving improve us as individuals. It is apparent of the benefit to others that come from a pair of helping hands or from a reassurance of comfort because they are so often met with a word or a gesture of gratitude.

However, the true gift of giving is not what can be seen but the idea that it fuses us with those we help. That act of generosity creates an experience that evolves into trust, friendships or even love.

It is through this giving that we find the best of ourselves and through our receiving that others, who give, reveal the best of themselves.

W e should never be afraid to discover who we are on the