There’s a good chance today that some opportunity will come your way to think worse of someone, some invitation to say something snide or mean, some chance to degrade someone else or just offer some supposedly well-meaning criticism intended to help them improve the wretched condition of their soul and spirit.

Now if you take any or all of those opportunities, you might feel a bit of temporary pleasure, a little satisfaction in letting people know you aren’t afraid to speak your mind, even a sense that justice has been served and that everyone around you is the better for it: it’s about time all those other people realized the truth about that individual.

Maybe.

Another truth is that you probably won’t feel any better. You’ll feel the darkness inside you grow a little deeper, your resentment will push out a little bit more of the light that is trying to find a place inside you, there’ll be an increase of negative thoughts and feelings and your body will release a little more of the chemicals that attack your organs. That poison in your mind will become literal as your brain releases those substances that make you feel worse and age faster. You really won’t enjoy your day a bit more.

On the other hand, you could try a bit of empathy. You could speculate that that other person is dealing with at least as much emotional compost as you are. You could assume that person is, like you, trying to do the best they can with what they have to work with today. You could pray that God would bless that person today with grace and wisdom and give them favor in the eyes of others. You could pray that God would bless the work of their hands and guide them toward peace and blessing. You could pray that God would protect them from harm and bring good into their life.

You would find that your brain would begin to release that stuff it releases that helps you think better and makes you feel better. Cells all over your body would begin to work more efficiently and you’d have more energy. You’d feel more like smiling and smiling makes you and the people around you feel better. And if you continued this practice on a regular basis, you’d start to feel and look younger.

Simple fact is, loving people leads to all kinds of good stuff—for you and for others.

Thanks for listening in while I’ve been talking to myself this morning. If you heard something that might help you, well, you’re welcome!!

H. Arnett
4/28/16