HOW TO BE GOOD TO OTHERS
MY POSITIVE SPIRIT SUGGESTIONS
A COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS
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GOD SANCTIONS HOPE
Heavenly Father and Spiritual Awareness,
You are newly acquired from within,
The feeling of positive reply,
Of prayers that were in waiting,
How I have yearned for the quests,
To the Keys of GOD’s meaning,
Simple are the answers,
Upon the lips forever sharing,
May life start over,
Of a renewal everlasting,
Trust is the simplicity,
With my turn at Baptism,
Just as GOD Sanctions Hope,
For a world ever-needing,
In the sweet name of Jesus, Amen.
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INTRODUCTION
Being cast aside for any reason makes us feel less than human. That is what we do to others when we ignore their plight. The dignity and pride of the less fortunate individual shows great contrast to ourselves who are not as needy. Be aware of all the raw human emotions that are mixed within the changing attitudes of the people you help. You may discover a thirst in helping all around you and that thirst will be quenched by the GOD that brought you into this world as an angel of mercy. So, continue your reason for living and search the truth that your limitations do not exceed your mind and the glory that may encompass you from yourself and others. Control and humble yourself during every move you make.
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SYNOPSIS
To really wonder about the negative results of this world makes us truly search our hearts. GOD’s potential is to give each day as all you have from your soul as divine encouragement. Positive results lead our people home into the loving arms of Christ and confident within ourselves to continue on the tasks and goals set before us from GOD.
Setting the foundation of your journey of life are the guidelines of my personal knowledge and experiences. I am a person that has strayed endlessly on many different paths and have done things that have allowed me to find myself. I am still searching for ways to grow Spiritually as well as mentally and emotionally but now it is under the care of The Lord and having to offer these events of my life is in the faith that others may learn from my personal quests.
Your own thoughts and ideas I respect. As an individual, there is a teaching and learning as a continued growth to better the surrounding life as we know it. This aspect covers many positive patterns of religions, family lifestyles, occupations, and recreational activities. We make or break our world. Do not let all the responsibilities be pushed off on others. Step in and take hold of life and do something NOW to control it. It does not need to be in exact comparison to myself or any long-winded speechmaker. Allow yourself to be guided along the path that includes the ideas of GOD. This is meant to be given to your thoughts that are comfortable for you and your character.
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INNER ATTITUDES
AT ANY TIME – RIGHT NOW IS IMPORTANT
A CARING HEART
TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
WANTING AND NEEDING TO REACH OUT
COPING WITH LIFE
SUPPORTIVE TIES AND FOLLOWING MORALS
TEMPTATION
JUDGMENT
THE FIRST STEPS
PASSIVENESS IS REQUIRED
THE NEXT STEPS
WHAT IF THIS DOES NOT WORK WITH POSITIVE RESULTS?
GREED
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AT ANY TIME – RIGHT NOW IS IMPORTANT
Measuring your inner strength or comparing yourself to the benefits of others is nonsense. Be yourself at all times. Do not rally inner forces if they are not there. Listen easily to your heart's reflection on the life you have shared with the important messages that are close to you. Be it from people, nature, the soft purr of a kitten, an easy remembered nudge from your pony, or the first morning awakening of an heart in love. YOU make the difference and your individuality is what makes you unique in life. Proceed with kindness in your soul. Trust in the Glory that there is a Power Higher than the universe and this goodness reflects your efforts at all times. Being a good Christian is the same as being a good Buddhist. They both practice at being good people. Just like being a good Catholic is the same as being a good Protestant. This total commitment is what matters. Nothing else can alter this world but true love from each other. For this then reflects our surroundings.
So, at any time – Right now is important!
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A CARING HEART
It is not an easy task to be good to others or become a good person. Much concentration from a passive heart needs to rule and mistakes must be acknowledged as one of those things that is accepted in this world. By looking ahead of each situation, allows us to be aware of what we need to do before the results occur. If you are able to do this, then you are truly Blessed and your concentration is at the highest point possible. I am unable to do this, all my attention focuses on the actual moment of each happening.
We need a caring heart at all times. So, what if for some reason you react quickly to situations and are easy to anger with physical force sometimes? Then my suggestion is to enroll in an Anger Management Group, at once, and stay with it until you get positive tested results. This has worked for 100% of my home life and also my business life. It only totally works with a positive attitude and a willingness to change. Also, think of this; If you become too easily agitated and /or angry, feel hopeless and /or suicidal, can not sleep or sleep too much – this is depression – and my suggestion from experience is to contact your County Mental Health for a free evaluation. The same said facility will also help you sign up with the Anger Management Group if needed.
Also remember this;
Passiveness is patience,
It is active,
It is concentrated strength.
These words from an unknown author ring very true to my thoughts. Whoever wrote this ode showed much knowledge from life. Be warned, I am truly a spitfire when needed. Especially arguing with my husband. Our children are being reared witH a firm hand, our family dog constantly wants my attention, the cats respect me, our parrot ignores me, the frog does not care, and the fishes just want to be fed! In other words, my life flows fairly faithful and true compared to other Christian families like ours. This means I contain all my passiveness strictly from an inner peace that reaches out to people. It is a silence that relaxes with confidence with the ones that are on edge and looking for a fight. Even with all of this, still, my mistakes are accomplished. To be perfect, there is no room for growth. Your soul might as well be locked away. Make your mistakes and learn with wisdom from the help of GOD. Allow those errors to be given to Our Lord GOD and do not take them back by pondering or kicking yourself about them. Say your prayer{s} if that is your custom, then continue on and do the best you are able to do.
Please be advised that these Spiritual and everyday conflicts that cross your path regularly rely on other GOD-Given relationships. With these relationships, our conflicts are shared within the dispensing of healing thru others. Acquiring this knowledge to reach out via non-religious methods is at times another way Our Lord helps us. We should never turn our thoughts away from the technological advances of our society. For they cling to our souls as what is right and good for the people who need them. We then use this internal message to better our lives and affect our whole world in a positive manner. This procedure may be very humbling for us. Especially for the people who have believed otherwise within our society and their technological advances.
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TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
It has taken me over thirty years to BEGIN to be honest with my significant other and within myself. As far as talking, expressing emotions, and explaining events to others – with this I have been truthfully honest about 99.999% of the time. This always had to be a must in my life, ever since I was an older teenager. I am aware that others do things differently but I feel if you desire to be in this business of being good to others you absolutely MUST be honest with the people you come in contact with. At all times do the best you are able to spare others’ feelings. Being brutal with your opinions is unnecessary. Positive comments like, “I really have no thoughts on the matter.” Or “I never thought of it that way before.” Or “Give me some time to think about it before I answer you.” These comments allow time within yourself before saying something too hasty, but remember this; Do what you say and say how you feel behind your response. Do not be a phony – people see through that instantly. Also, always put your GOD above everything and everyone else. That you must do. Making promises to GOD and then not keeping them and only half-hearted attempts at any other promise will affect you and /or your family. So, believe and trust GOD, I know from experience.
Now another aspect of being honest within yourself is an effort to practice the art is not to be recognized thru your ego. No one needs to know your quest in being good to others. Anything you need to say you should discuss with a spouse, parent, or very close friend. Everyone needs a sounding board, advice, and/or guidance. You need not brag or complain about what is going on when you start this conversation with the one you choose. You will eventually lose their respect and/or attention after a while. Just talk briefly about what occurred and get their opinion or sympathy. Then drop the thought and continue on with the next topic, and also, one may listen to but do not spread gossip. Which is an unworthy subject to get into at this time.
Now the last item of honest advice from within is forgiveness. Practicing this one takes quite a bit of control. Too many people ‘want to get even’ and too many people do not know how to say ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me.’ Rarely now, is a heart-felt ‘I’m sorry’ and a sincere offer of making the wrong better, a way to reach another’s understanding of their feelings. Most people believe you are just trying to get yourself off easy in life by apologizing. There was a time when this was not thought about. I personally feel you should say ‘I’m sorry,’ only if you mean it and offer restitution and, then with prayers in your heart let GOD take care of the rest. So, trying to get even, by dragging anyone through the court system to get justice served is being a bully. Do not think while talking and justifying your court story{ies} to everyone you will be given awesome respect. So do not be fooled. People will be wary, afraid, and will not want to be around you. They will think, ‘If you are doing this to these people you may do something similar to us and it may even be something of less importance.’ Think about it.
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WANTING AND NEEDING TO REACH OUT
I believe the compassion one feels for others may quite possibly begin at a very young age. Expose a child to an awareness of right from wrong, delve solidly into a sense of goodness overpowering evil, plant the seeds of a GOD that is loving and slow to anger, and also include your love and acceptance surrounding their self-esteem. There then, you will have a creation of a new miracle wanting and needing to reach out to all who are helpless. For each of these children – who hears the injustices of everyday life feels the aggressiveness of the ones who think they are superior and sees the turmoil caused by others who lack a caring heart – these are the children who grow up strong in being there for other people and defending their rights.
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COPING WITH LIFE
Life may be one great big headache and coping with it may be twice as bad. The worse possible solution is reacting too quickly with situations that you do not take the time to think over. When a problem arises, turn off all the unnecessary rush of emotions and take each step slowly, one at a time. If you do not, over-reaction will occur and then an overbalance of negative responses happens.
To cope with life slowly is not an easy task to accomplish. It seems acting quickly will take care of everything at once. {There is double trouble if you take each occurrence as a personal assault. Especially if it concerns your child, children, relative, or close friend.} you may take these steps to control yourself – count to ten, walk away, or even have a good cry – because not only being good to others is difficult but being good to yourself is what matters here and it will be less painful if you take the time to think things over AND THEN clearly react. For if you do not you will have to redo and redo over what you think was already done. Only experience and acquiring your individual mature age will this redoing be able to stop from happening the majority of the time. One more thing – expect at least some number of negative results when organizing matters – be it from church, school, or any other kind of activity that includes more than two people. So be very careful. It is extremely frustrating to handle everything properly with too many ears and mouths going with different ideas. Above all, do not gossip about immaterial happenings. If you gossip about others by complaining to another and the goal you are setting out to do is met, well, do you think there will be a rock big enough to hide under? So, keep your cool and make yourself like the old bull in the pasture when the young bull said to him, “Hey, let’s RUN and get us one of those cows over there!” and the old bull said, “Let’s WALK over there and get them all!” So just relax, take a breath, and always remember – if you were to cause any kind of disturbance, an honest and a sincere apology is an humbling experience for anyone to go through and you will feel much better about yourself afterwards.
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SUPPORTIVE TIES AND FOLLOWING MORALS
Your supportive ties are very important in anything you set out to do. If you have no supportive ties you wish to consider in your daily thoughts then you must be a very strong individual and do not seek support from anyone. I, personally, need to have at times, the support from my mother, father, mother-in-law, or any one of my sisters, brothers, children, close friends, or even my significant other. I have even searched out particular people who would gladly listen to me. If no one was ever available to me I would always start talking to GOD. What I am saying here, there is always someone available to be a positive listener to you and offer encouragement. You are not lost and when you feel any complete loss inside, that is when you are being carried thru each problem by your GOD. This leads us to following our morals and doing right from wrong. I could stress emphatically each of the ten commandments here but why bother. If I narrowed it down like Christ did to just two commandments to follow, it would be much easier. {1} You should love the Lord your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength {2} You should love your neighbor as yourself. {St. Mark 12:29-31} Listening to these two commandments and 100% applying them to your life will bring goodness and mercy wherever you shall go. For some people though, this would be changing into a whole new way of life. Yet for some others, it may be just brushing up a bit. Needless to say, shaping or reshaping your inner and outer world to these two intense commandments will bring you and your family peace and contentment within your whole heart. So, follow your supportive ties and be complete within your positive morals.
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TEMPTATION
This is an area of discussion that allows us to admit our weaknesses. We are truly the helpless victims of the probing world concerning our past. Hopefully, we have dealt with our past performances as allurements of our mistaken judgments. To feel comfortable for each temptation of admission requires an acceptance of our total selves. Then we would need to feel as a person starting over, as a virgin, so to say. Yet someone starting over with wisdom instead of inexperience and able to still allow a positive pattern of growth towards yourself and others around you. As I sit here and think of the temptations I have had recently. The ones I have knowingly indulged in from today and yesterday. They are the ones I am fully aware of doing while knowing in my heart they were wrong to do at the time. I will not write them down here for it is between me and my GOD to reckon with. I will say this though, it does not matter how great or insignificant these temptations are. What matters here is the fact they were committed and must be dealt with accordingly. This action of penance through your confession is one way and allowing your GOD to deal strictly with you alone, and religious counseling. I personally want GOD to handle the majority of my punishments. That way they are dealt with in a natural formation of everyday occurrences. Which then I suffer the consequences willingly and it is just between GOD and myself. By no means am I downplaying confession or religious counseling. I have been to both. I believe by utilizing all of the three – confession, one on one with GOD, religious counseling – will grant you the best results of your penance. With these true spiritual learning experiences, for us to do all three, is greatly rewarded during our lifetime and after. Now with all of these ideas that have been mentioned here, we may begin to understand the combinations of our thoughts. These definitely are expressed to benefit each other within their own domain and guide you unerringly in being good to others.
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JUDGMENT
Through all the energies of Spiritual Guidance, why do we always judge others? I am so terribly guilty of this. Starting a condemning sentence, I catch my thoughts and then realize my true heart’s desire. I then change my attitude in mid-stream. I even point out and say, ‘I am passing judgment and I should not do this.’ I do not have the common sense to just shut up from the very beginning of these situations or just walk away with a very polite, ‘Excuse me, please, I need to go do something else right now.’ Judgment is something that GOD and only GOD has the right to control. We are not allowed to take the reigns of power and with self-righteous thoughts belittle any human being. We do this anyways and this judgment may be very hurtful and may be very harmful. For with judgment comes much negative output. The only corrective answer is to turn your eyes to the wisdom of any positive person who gives an example of complete brotherhood. There are many throughout Spiritual History and just as many living today. With my upbringing, the person that comes to my eyes of thought is Christ. Jesus is one person among us who qualifies as one of the many positive leaders to follow, imitate, and express warmth toward each other. Through Him, this is one of the many passionate ways to accept people for who they are.
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THE FIRST STEPS
In acquiring the first step of being good to others you need to hear our story from the beginning. This is a story of simplicity which anyone with a pure and honest heart would be able to copy, and also to procure all the benefits of just being kind, for the reason of spreading goodwill and peace within this world. Here is our story;
My children and I began to buy artificial flowers one year for Easter baskets and garden hats for our family and friends. A few months later while standing in line at our local Thrift Store one day, I was pondering on my life and how difficult it is and what a struggle it has been to make it in this world being mentally challenged. I thought what a joy it would have been if someone would have given me any kind of small gift, just to make me happy and for me not to think of any troubles for a few minutes each day by looking at the gift that was given. At the same time, I was thinking of this, I then saw a barrel of stuffed animals at a reduced price over by the store’s front door. All of a sudden, the combined thoughts and actions just mentioned came together. My Given Idea was this, ‘Why don’t we just make artificial flower baskets with a little stuffed animal in it and give them away to people in the local hospitals who need that inner smile in their life. What a brainstorm from GOD! A true Divine Inspiration! I believe if you get a thought like this to act on and it is truly positive for all involved, then it is a Golden Thought from Heaven Above. With all of this, I had to think where I would get all these supplies and keep the cost within our household budget. So, I then made a list of what I needed and started calling stores to talk to managers that would possibly help me with their donations of items I needed. I kept all requested items to the lowest cost possible for them and limited my requests to the stores that I frequented. I would also bring in ‘request letters’ asking and explaining my need for these items. I was astounded by the generosity of these department stores, hobby stores, thrift stores, and food stores. It was an overwhelming and Spiritual Experience for me. I indeed was enforced with the feeling that there is more good than evil in this world. So, to show our gratitude to everyone who had faith in us, my children and I made everyone a special basket with a nice poem attached and with a promise if they ever need a basket for any reason, they would be able to come to us with their special requests and we would honor that request.
What needs to be mentioned here, is the fact that any low-cost idea is a positive choice that will succeed in making people happy. It can be an easy flower arrangement, any small craft notion, or even purchasing second-hand articles, at discount – like jackets or blankets – washing and repairing them.
Also, keep in mind what you have started here is considered a business. You must apply through your city for a license. I applied for a non-profit business license showing no money coming in and no money going out. This is strictly a no-profit, all the way around, endeavor that has been started.
Now I personally believe when GOD gives you a Divine Idea like this and this Idea is contrived solely to make money, then this would be a complete and utter sin. That is why I truly feel this quest has absolutely worked for me and has made me into a Spirit-Filled Millionaire at the age of thirty-six. By applying all this positive information, from GOD to your inner self and to your way of life, then you too will be a self-made millionaire. For this worldly peace and contentment, in my soul and throughout my whole heart, has meant more to me than money or possessions I have ever owned in my entire lifetime. Praise GOD! Sing to Jesus😊
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PASSIVENESS IS REQUIRED
Here, again, we need to accept passiveness. In connection to surviving with everyday happenings. To make all the work that needs to be done fit into a certain span of time will never occur. Do not upset yourself over matters you may not be able to change with people who are there to help you. With acquired passiveness, you will be understanding and generous. Following this path, you will find more people willing to help you to reach your goals that need to be met. Plus, what is wrong with having a reputation as an extremely nice person? Do not ever have the attitude that everyone SHOULD be helping you. For it is noticeable and people do resent it and have their own little ways of being disagreeable. So, if you feel people are just as important as yourself and life’s surroundings fill you with contentment, then proceed along as yourself.
As you walk this path of being good to others, be sure you’re waiting for things to happen is on others and not on GOD. Please do not ever wait on or say you are waiting on GOD. This is extremely a danger to your lifestyle and your ambitions of what you are setting out to do. I will overstress this point. Allow events to continue on by praying, doing housework, exercising, taking a walk, a bicycle ride, or even an overwhelmed nap in the middle of the day. Do whatever is the best for you and your moment. Let these choices continue their course by waiting on people and never on Our GOD. The reason; GOD is a Spiritual and Divine Entity and our true formations allow us to study individuals and their happenings. This means we should keep ourselves within our same level of understandable surroundings. So, when we assume to wait on GOD, we are lowering the LORD to our level and expecting instead of allowing Him to enter our hearts naturally.
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THE NEXT STEPS
After two months of making baskets, I realized this wonderful and remarkable idea would be expanded into gathering food for the less fortunate and homeless people that are within our city limits. There again, I called or went over to the local food stores asking them for donations of bread or canned goods. All you need to do is ask, have a request letter, and a non-profit business license. The worst thing that may happen to you during all of this is a ‘no’ answer and that has never hurt anyone. That’s what my mother has always said to me and she IS always right.
Be advised that food stores return their out-of-date, dented and not selling can goods for credit. I am currently in the process of asking for can donations from my local distribution center. If they are unable to help us, I will continue to ask the next local center. If for some reason there is nothing but brick walls in our way, then it was not meant to be. Just maybe something else might happen instead or someone will lead us into a new area of thought. GOD’s Will.
Now all of this, the basket arrangements, and the bread distribution was approved by all the necessary personnel of the city. There were a few stipulations that had to be followed. Like storing the bread in a licensed facility. Which our church was so kind to allow us to do. All of this was part of a general procedure and nothing at all too difficult but very time-consuming. Simply for the reason that it had never been done before. Thus, making all of us pioneers in this area of Spiritual Generosity.
These positive choices turned out to be a one hundred percent committed vow that was given to me from The Lord Jesus. For the authority came to me from GOD through the actual words of Christ’s voice to “Feed His Lambs and His Sheep and to also Tend after His Sheep.” {para phrasing the last chapter of The Gospel of John} By having Jesus as an authoritative guideline here, any person would be able to acquire an opportunity at being a Good Samaritan. I recommend starting very slow with these projects. Also, to take everything, good and evil, by relying on these Positive Spirit Suggestions. These of which are written with careful contemplation and experience. When it is your turn to be good to others, you will know and be ready.
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WHAT IF THIS DOES NOT WORK WITH POSITIVE RESULTS?
If nothing is working right and everything seems to fall apart and your effort turns out to be your worse nightmare – what could be the answer to this? Quite possibly there is an inner self struggle and you are not ready to commit to the complete needs of others. Plenty of people want to help the problems of the world to get better. Most of us want this but are unable to express themselves as leaders. Then I suggest to start at the total beginning. Volunteer yourself at hospitals, churches, thrift stores, any of your local shelters, social services, or even something of your own choice. This way you get a feel for the needs of others. Without the trouble of being involved with hassles. You will then be able to understand within yourself, through first- hand experiences, if you want to further advance into your own business of helping others. Then you will know if you are truly ready.
Now, what if for some reason you are unable to get a good enough response time with making everything go smoothly – do not worry yourself. Be aware that negative experiences with any business is bound to happen. Those loose ends will connect eventually. So go along with it and pray for understanding with both sides in mind. Keep this thought in your heart; when praying, do not ask for patience. When praying for patience GOD will send you suffering. For with suffering, you will acquire patience. {all I know about patience is this, whether you pray for it or not GOD has a way of working it into your life}
Be forewarned here about the evilness of others. Even, yes even in this field of GOD’s work there are others who are greedy and jealous. I was dumbfounded to find it among this profession. I mean, you hear all kinds of bad politics going on elsewhere but to actually imagine this in a very small part of a non-profit situation left me amazed. With the incidents I was exposed to, I was shielded by GOD’s Loving Warmth and I was thanking The Prayers I had been receiving from my friends. With this, I learned to protect myself from the pure spiteful ways of others, by adding to the bottom of my request letters a reference section. There I would list no less than five non-related people who had the most exposure with my character through my business dealings. This has truly helped and protected me. Along with being honest to every individual I have met. It is the only way to cover yourself and get ‘Positive Results.’
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GREED
With the giving away of coats and jackets, there are people that want two or more. Do not be surprised at this. For this is not greed but only the signs of being without for so long. Just imagine their plight – no food – no adequate shelter – nothing decently warm to cover themselves during winter. Their children – what about them? Many stressful situations make grown people become desperate inside.
Remember this, every choice in life is different but all deep-hearted measurement is the same. Only when you give entirely on just to give, with no recognition in mind, then that is considered pure of thought. Allow no greed for your inner ego.
Now, when constructing our baskets together or waking up at 05:30 A.M. to pick up bread – that is when our family is filled to its peak with the Holy Spirit. Even when we take the basket materials to convalescent homes to be arranged by the elderly, there is such an atmosphere of giving and sharing. There is an all-encompassing unity for appreciated togetherness. Greed is never present.
Also, try to keep in mind with these baskets, when you create them, they are to be given away. This is the heart of your generosity. With the bread – give to the children but do not ignore the lone struggling individual – hunger is the biting evil of our society. The jackets – find a Thrift Store that will work with you and your budget. If no Thrift Store will help, go to banks or grocery and department store employees. Continue on your quests and keep the greed away from your Spiritual Life.
After completing my thoughts in detail. I want to express this to everyone. Just serving the LORD has been a total reward in my life and following Jesus Christ’s voice in His Leadership has given me the knowledge and strength I needed to do and finish these Positive Spirit Suggestions.
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THEREFORE WILL I TRUST HIM
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me, I cannot
know for certain where it will end. Nor do I
really know myself, and the fact that I
think that I am following your will does not
mean that I am actually doing so. But I
believe that the desire to please you does in
fact please you. And I Hope I have that
desire in all that I am doing. I Hope that I
will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, You will lead me
by the right road, though I may know nothing
about it. Therefore will I trust You always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow
of death, I will not fear, for You are ever
with me, and You will never leave me to face
my perils alone.
Thomas Merton
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