"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." - Mahatma Gandhi
The truth-force, a belief in truth and nonviolence was the bedrock of Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance which led India to independence from the British. He inspired millions to civil disobedience campaigns which led to their independence. He aligned his thoughts, words and actions around his beliefs.
His harmonious mindset is his enduring legacy. His actions were not a strategy, they were the beliefs he lived his life on. He lived a simple life and treated others with respect and compassion. When we recognize the divine in every individual and the interconnectedness of every being, we’re also called to live out those beliefs if we want to also develop an harmonious mindset.
A key component of the harmonious mindset is love and unity. Within the Christian tradition I’ve often found myself feeling at odds with the commandment “Love your neighbour as yourself”. I’ve often not really had a good attitude toward myself. If I treated others with the same mindset, I’d be bordering on mean at times. Not a good plan.
What drew my attention to the image I chose for this piece was the opposites within the unity of the piece. The paths wandered around, the colour shifts from blue (calm) to red (unsettled) and yet, the image has an overall unity to it. Our minds and ideas tend to be a lot the same. We’re never 100% the same way all the time. Least I’m not.
In working on my attitude toward myself my thoughts and ideas become more aligned with having the goal of an harmonious mindset. Of not only being willing to be loving toward myself but also to others. In 1 John Jesus says, “let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. The verse encourages consistency in thought, word and deed.
I remember as a young teen observing the behaviour of some elders in the church around church activities and their behaviour the rest of the week. In observing them, it was like they were setting an example of one type of behaviour for church and then do what you want the rest of the week. It left me with an onqoing question of why bother with church?
I knew intuitively then what I know with absolute certainty now. The elders were wrong, they were not living the faith they professed. Faith is an action word, it’s not something you perform for a day or two and then go back to do what you want. To put it bluntly, those elders were more about the social cred their actions gave them on Sundays than actually living the life they professed to honour.
What they were oblivious to is the disharmony they created in their own lives. Had they lived the life of the faith professed, treating others with humility and grace they may have been surprised how it came back to them.
Over the years, I’ve tried to lead a life of not doing for selfish reasons. When I gave my time, talent or treasures to others, I expected nothing in return, I gave because I felt moved to. I was always astounded at the number of times someone would extend an unexpected kindness and then tell me it was appreciation for something I’d forgotten I’d even done.
Was that riches in my bank account? Not usually. There are many kinds of riches. I have experienced many riches with gratitude.
When we come into alignment with a mindset of loving ourself as our neighbours, and that mindset mirrors how we move in the world an harmonious mindset emerges. We might not move millions to act to change the world. We might however find a peace in our mind. Peace is what brings happiness. It’s something we often miss.
Have I formed a perfectly aligned harmonious mindset? Hell, no. I’ve had occasions of it. But to paraphrase someone dear to me, I’m an imperfectly perfect human having a spiritual experience on earth. I may get it yet.
Shadowspub writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc. Her Nicheless Narrative podcast airs on Thursdays each week.
NOTE: unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s.
Some of the image work may have been done in Midjourney for which I hold a licence to use the imges commercially.
How to Connect With ShadowsPub:
.
Twitter: @shadowspub
Instagram: shadowspublishing
Medium: @shadowspublishing
Publishing Website: Shadows Publishing
Nicheless Website: Nicheless & Loving It
(Podcast & subscriptions for: Prompt A Day, PYPT Reminder & Newsletter)
Pimp Your Post Thursday (PYPT):
join us on the DreemPort Discord12pm EST Thursdays
``` `
Get eyes on your content and meet new friends. Join DreemPort.