I personally believe that Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest gifts to American spirituality. He spoke with passion, lived with courage, challenged others to overcome their present circumstances and experience themselves and others in a greater and more loving way. His words resounded throughout our country like sweet notes of deep and hidden truth. He walked fully and honestly, paving the way for others to do the same. He raised the light in the midst of great darkness. He dreamed of a possibility that we are beginning to see blossom into a reality. Through the actions of one man, an entire country has changed, and Barack Obama’s inauguration as the next President of the United States is living proof that this is so.
So today, in honor of a great teacher, reflect on the following nine quotes from Dr. King, allowing his great wisdom to resonate in your own life to experience more fullness, richness, and juiciness in the year ahead!
1. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can.”
Positive situations can only arise from optimism. Peace will never be established through wars. And inner peace will never be created through negative self-talk.
Many of us are kind to others, but internally we are cruel dictators. Practice talking softly to yourself this week, like you would to a sweet, innocent child. He is compassionate and understanding. Be encouraging, excited and joyful for everything you dream of. It is only through a loving approach that the true enjoyment and richness of life can be embraced.
2. “Faith is taking the first step even if you don’t see the whole ladder.”
Action is the missing step in so many people’s journey. Most of us know what we should be doing, but we don’t live in alignment with those goals. Taking a step towards integrity and moving forward energetically, taking action, any action, is vital. Without movement, there is stagnation. Nothing can change when you stand still.
So take a leap. Make a decision about something small this week that you’ve been putting off. Once you take those brave first steps, life has a beautiful way of lighting the path ahead of you. With each step forward, the path will be revealed and your journey will unfold.
3. “The means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.”
Too often we get sidetracked in this country and hold only the end results of our efforts in high regard. But too often I come across clients who are apparently very successful and financially abundant…but spiritually bankrupt. Many people are so focused on the prize that they will do anything to get there, forgetting to stop along the way to play, reflect, give thanks, and smell the roses.
If we lived in a world where the only thing that mattered was actually your intention, your conscience, your kindness, or your faith, where would you place yourself? What grade would you give yourself in the school of life?
The same principle applies in feng shui. It is not so important that your house looks beautiful, but how it got that way. May you have reverence when cleaning. May you have joy when decorating. That you smile while you reorganize. Focus instead on how you’re BEING, rather than everything you’re DOING…and you’ll be doing great!
4. “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
We tend to make decisions about our lives in terms of physical well-being over spiritual well-being. We want to live a long life, and we have doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies to support those goals. But what if we were just as tenacious about our own joy and laughter? What if we fought for meaning and love? What if we did anything to feel passion, pleasure and fun every day?
The desire for longevity is based on fear. The other is based on love. How can you start living a long and LOVING life? Bringing even the smallest glimmer of lightness into your day will contribute far more to your health and longevity than a trip to the doctor…
5. “An individual has not begun to live until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all mankind.”
When clients come to me frustrated or depressed, it’s usually because they’ve shifted their perspective inward, wallowing in the details of their own lives. I have been there many times myself, as the human brain has a sneaky way of putting each of us at the center of our own little Universe. And while that sounds like a great thing, it can also wreak havoc.
When we shift our focus to others, we not only gain the experience of helping a neighbor, but we also realize that we are not alone, others share the same struggles (or often worse, and that the things we are fixed might not really be that important after all.
This outward focus can also bring a deep sense of satisfaction. When we live only for ourselves, an emptiness develops. By holding fast to what we know to be true and shining our lights for others to see, we not only enrich our own lives, we make a difference in the world, and this kind of experience always reaps rewards far greater than those done solely for our own gain. When you learn to turn on someone else’s flashlight, you are also lighting your way.
6. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
We tend to see ourselves as individuals, separate from the whole. We care about our own needs, our own injustices, our own struggles, and our own desires. But if you look around you, we are all completely interdependent. Hundreds of people have likely touched every morsel of food, item of clothing, or car you drive. Unless we are living off the grid, every move we make is linked to many other people.
The same interconnectedness is found at the interpersonal level. Every time you meet another person, you make an impact, be it positive or negative. Every smile, grimace, compliment, or hug impacts your home, your community…and eventually, the planet. Only when we begin to see each other as united, as cells of a greater being, as ourselves, will we experience peace throughout the planet. Let it start with you.
7. “We must concentrate not only on the negative expulsion of war but on the positive affirmation of peace.”
Dr. King expresses here a very important principle in the manifestation of any dream. Whatever we focus on, it gets bigger, and unfortunately we have media that looks at scandal, crime, violence and poverty. Take a look at your own life, your own struggles… Have the things that worry you most happened? Are the challenges you face the ones you have reflected on?
Also take a look at your triumphs. Were they things you talked about, dreamed about, or wrote about?
This week take a look at your wish list. How can you keep your eyes on THAT prize and less on your worries? Where can you live “as if” your dreams have already come true, instead of complaining about your disappointments? Where can you find room to improve and take loving steps to revel in all that is good?
8. “Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in solid, hard thinking. There is an almost universal search for easy answers and half solutions. For some people, nothing hurts more than having to think.”
So… Are you a follower or a leader? Do you take as truth what everyone tells you… your parents, the newspapers, the priests and the politicians? Have you taken the time to tell yourself what you think? Have you put your hand on your own belly and sat in that silence, listening to the quiet inner wisdom? Did someone once tell you that you weren’t pretty enough? Smart enough? Creative enough? Motivated enough? High enough to have what you really want?
If so, where can you start to take back your power and find your own voice and set your own path? Where can your spirit begin to whisper in your ear? Where can you find your own beautiful answers?
9. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
In a world filled with flashy cars, high-profile celebrities, plastic surgery, and get-rich-quick schemes, it’s easy to lose sight of the deepest aspects of the human spirit. When we judge ourselves or others based on their appearance, status, age, ability, or wealth, we lose sight of the truly beautiful parts of each of our souls. Every person on this planet has a story, has hopes, has fears, and has a heart if we open our eyes to see it.
If you are only scratching the surface of life, I challenge you to dig deeper. Take time out of your busy schedule to make eye contact, flash a smile, or offer a hand to your neighbor. Stop to ask your children what their life is like, what scares them and what they long for. Ask your partner what they want most from you and ask your neighbors how you can help.
Living only on the surface makes life very fragile. So dig in, dig in… and dig in some more. There you will find the gold….