Kevlar helmet saved the life of an Orlando, Fla., police officer.
William “Bud” Hart, of Haverhill, shares “Success Principles”—ideas for living a greater, better and more accomplished life, and building habits that stick. He also coaches clients to incorporate strategies for boosting their mental and physical performance during everyday living.
We all want to be ready for anything. We spend a great deal of time perfecting our technique for stepping up to meet challenges. But at certain times and events in life, no matter how good and prepared we have become something occurs that tests our progress, something that forces us to rethink everything. The shooting rampage that took place at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando this past weekend is one of these occurrences.
With any chaotic bad happening in today’s world the Internet and 24/7 news and cable television stations flood the airwaves with pictures and reports (often the same pictures and reports repeated over and over), to the point where it is nearly impossible not to be reminded many times daily of the evil. Still just as Newtown is now a distant memory and Boston and San Bernardino are becoming so (except to those directly involved and affected), the news coverage will end and the memory of Orlando will soon begin to fade.
Before it does here is something to think about.
When we imagine individuals who do great harm to others it is hard to find it in our heart to forgive and not hate them? The bigger question (for me anyway) is why should we?
It’s not an easy question to answer, and exploring it would take a lot more than an article. So I will stick to one very important (in my opinion) reason. Most (if not all) of us know someone who causes us anger, or extreme dislike, or resentment, for something they’re doing or have done. And angst, hatred and bitterness when allowed to live within us are counterproductive and can be destructive (as we’ve seen in Orlando). Letting go of any bad is necessary and liberating.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Christ preached a profound sermon showing how to live, referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. In it we are instructed to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us. It’s an idea that was taught not only by Jesus, but by Buddha, Gandhi and many other great people and religions.
It’s a tall order to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us but it’s not impossible (for anyone). And it’s vital, too, because ultimately it leads to personal freedom and happiness.
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.”
William “Bud” Hart is a certified “Mindset” Coach, Accountability Partner and Business Consultant. Founder of Hart Group, www.hartgroupma.com.