What Kind Of World Do You Choose To Live In?
Mar 28th, 2009 | By Dan O'Neil | Category: UncategorizedI’m a member of an online coaches discussion forum and there was a really interesting discussion about plagiarism. It reminded me of a thought I’d had several years ago about what kind of world we choose to live in.
For the most part, people tend to live in a world filled with fear and bad things happening. It is this place where the media is king and we are reminded constantly of how awful life is. A long time ago I made a decision to live in a different world – in a place filled with love, awe and wonderful things happening. It was quite a turning point for me.
I understand of course that there are things happening in the world that people describe as “bad”, however for me, I choose to live in a different world where I see the good in people and things. The truth is that things are only good or bad because we say they are. On whatever level (either consciously or un-consciously) people are attracting and creating their own circumstances. In essence, (I learned this from Neale Donald Walsch) everything is perfect as it is.
My truth is that I am able to define things as good or bad as I choose, not as I am told to think. If things in my world are not as I want them to be, then I have the power to change myself in order to change those things. Of the many things out there that are considered by many to be “bad” I appreciate that there will be a few people who recognise their power to make changes. I am not here to bend the world to my will, or to create a perfect environment or society. I trust that everything is and will always be perfect.
I create my experience. I choose.
Hi Dan
I had to gulp because at the first look it seemed to me as if you were advising to ignore what the world is and pretend to yourself that everything is fine. I had to reread your post several times until I got it – and even that I am doing it myself to a certain extend. For example I chose to get rid of my TV: It rather seldem brings something really worthwhile into my life, so I gave it away.
I want to point out, that in my opinion it is important to at least try to leave the world a little bit better as you found it.
Thanks for that thoughtful post.
Michael
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Dan O’Neil says… Hi Michael – I had a suspicion that people might think similarly. Thanks for taking the time to understand the words and message!
Nice and thoughtful article here. The world i would love to live in is a calm one. For instance, when you can go to the store and not have to get in a argument.
Dan O’Neil says… I wish you all the best in your calm world! In a film once someone said “What colour is the sky in your world?” That question always stuck with me!
Dan – sounds like a great way to live. Its like an anti-virus for the mind. An “automatic reframe” to change they way you think or act if it the “default” way isn’t improving your life.
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Dan O’Neil says… That’s a great way to look at this. Thanks.
Interesting thought. I have been thinking recently if you believe something – for example that God exists in the Biblical sense – that it doesn’t matter what the reality of the matter is, for all intents and purposes what you believe is the reality that you will base all your life decisions on. This is similiar to what you are saying in creating your own experience.
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Hi Dan – Right on – I believe our reality is conditioned by our expectations.
Off topic, but:
Have you seen the ‘review’ of your site on Tuscson SEO Solutions? (day 74)
Cheers – Rhys
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Dan O’Neil says… Hi Rhys, you have a great belief there and I hope more people will learn this. Thanks for the tip on the review!
If you were advising to ignore what the world is and pretend to yourself that everything is fine. I had to reread your post several times until I got it – and even that I am doing it myself to a certain extend.
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Dan O’Neil says… Normally, amidst such confusion I would attempt to re-write my post in order that people find the meaning more easily. In this case, I sense that it can be a positive to have to re-read the words to decipher the meaning. Thanks for your comment.
Dan, I too had to read your post twice. I recently made a commitment to myself to stop watching the news. I found that events out of my control were just causing me more stress and anxiety. I have been working towards not only finding the good, but also acknowledging it in others. My little positive change revolution.
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Dan O’Neil says… Your little positive change revolution will go much further than you think! Thanks for your comments.
Hi Dan
Congratulations on addressing what is a pretty controversial topic. And I agree 100% with what you say.
The process of learning to understand that perceived reality and its associated value judgments is a totally subjective affair, can be a difficult and challenging concept to embrace for a lot of people – but one that has to be embarked upon in order for one to grow (in my opinion).
On this very topic, one of the most enlightening books I ever read, that literally broadsided me whilst reading it, was a book called “Seth Speaks” by Jane Roberts.
For anybody wanting to understand the true nature of reality, I 100% recommend you read this material. You may want to suspend your thoughts on the author of the book (when you check it out you’ll see what I mean), lest it cloud your judgment, but the contents are truly mind-blowing and they WILL change your view on life forever!
I’m new to this blog Dan, but I’m loving it already
.
Many thanks
Pete
Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Pete, your comments are much appreciated. I’ve heard mention of Seth Speaks very recently and I’m pretty sure it’s on my wife’s list of books to read. Thanks for the tip!
I agree that it is sometimes good live in a different world to avoid all the fear and negativity.
When you say, “you have the power to change yourself to change those things”. – I don’t know about this, I think it might be better to just realize that some things are out of your control.
I enjoyed reading the post.
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Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Beth, I believe that everyone has the power to change things that they do not like. I appreciate that it may take several lifetimes to change everything we do not like, however we have the choice and the power to do something! In general, most people are choosing to do nothing about anything!
We need to have really really broad vision to see goodness in people and in this world. We have to have an ability to forget bad things and to replace them with good thoughts.
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Dan O’Neil says… Thanks for your perspective. We have the ability to see all things as they are, without calling them bad or good.
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, as the saying always goes. I agree with you that its a matter of choice if you select to be happy or to look life positively or not. What’s nice is that when you feel good about life, you live your life with less burden. What I always do is smile on it, face and live with it and go on with my life smiling.
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Dan O’Neil says… Ah, Bleuken, the smiling SEO person! What a great attitude to have!
Hello Dan
Interesting read, I’m a pretty positive person, ask my wife, she finds it annoying
.
But there can’t be good in every situation, can there?
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Dan O’Neil says… There is only good if that’s all you see! Good and bad are merely labels that we give things, so it’s up to you!
Dan,
I read somewhere this thundering line, “Refuse to be miserable!”
The line that followed was ‘Try it. It is the secret of life.’
Though the above mentioned expression would ruffle the feathers of few skeptics and they might exclaim, “Easier said than done!”
But really, in your blog the last two words, “I choose” is the essence of living a life of love, awe and wonderful things happening.
Thank you for the refresher!
Nazia
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Dan O’Neil says… Hi Nazia, hope you are well. Thanks for your comments – I love the sentiment of refuse to be miserable!
This is an interesting thought… but I do believe there somethings in life that you can’t control nor change. What you can do is live each day as if its your last.
Dan O’Neil says… I think that if we all believed that there are things in life that you can’t control or change, then we’d never get anywhere! I like the live each day as if it is your last.
great thoughts , I also wish to live in another world which is more peaceful . it should be something like internet community where you can find lot of helpful people as compared to real world
Dan O’Neil says… It’s a nice world that one.
Absolutely! How we see the world in the past and present shapes how it will be interpreted in the future. Constant exposure to violent/depressing media will only make the world seem like a bad place to live it… but its not! The world has potential, opportunity and abundance… you just have to learn to recognize it.
You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Mahatma Ghandi
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Dan O’Neil says… Great comment, thanks.
Here’s my two cents:
I live my life with an F5 key programmed into my brain. Whenever I get weary of all the bad news, I just hit that imaginary F5 button and just like in a computer, it refreshes the mind. I’ve been using this approach for a while now and it’s working great. You just have to believe.
Dan O’Neil says… I love this idea!! (Being a former IT chap will probably help too!)
I agree with you on point that our decision has a direct impact on outcome of things. Perhaps not directly and on subconscious level but it works!
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Dan O’Neil says… I find that if we expect and get negative things, we don’t notice that we did it… however when we expect and get positive things, we’re pretty chuffed with ourselves!
I love this last part of your post, “I create my experience. I choose.”
With your permission, I would like to print this up and hang it in my classroom. I teach at a middle school and I think these kids could really take something from this.
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Dan O’Neil says… You know I think I’ll do the same here in my office! You can use this with pleasure!
share in the goodness of love is fun, and maybe that is the actual world.
the article is very touching feeling.
thanks
Dan O’Neil says… Nice words, thanks.
Reading this post, I was reminded of Ehrmann’s Desiderata — one of the most beautiful poems I’ve read.
“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
Dan O’Neil says… Liked!
This is really good and informative post. I admit to still live in a world of fear, but with a tendency to switch to the world of true love. Life that I currently live is a difficult and unhappy. I think it is very important to rid of the fear and start to live in something quite different.
Dan O’Neil says… I wish you all the best.
You make a very interesting point about changing yourself to change the world around you. After all, what do you really have control over? Ultimately, only yourself.
It has always seemed to me like a filter. If we focus on the “good”, then we notice more good. If we focus on “bad”, we notice more bad. The things are always around us… it’s a matter of what we lend our thoughts and energy to.
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Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Lee – I love this comment – It’s exactly what it is all about.
Good post, Remember when you choose to see the good things in life your life will be different. The greatest thing about being positive is you become a positive magnate. I mean good stuff starts to happen to you. “Positive” is an energy that is unmistakable, In order for good things to happen to you, you have attract those things by being positive. Or said another way…A negative person will never be a host for positive energy. Get it
yeah
Dan O’Neil says… Cheers BK!
you really have the power to choose what you want to do or to happen to you. but looking on a bigger perspective, you’ll see that there are a lot more evil in the world than goodness. and we can witness to that, but I hope that everybody would realize that and stop pretending that the world is still in good shape.
Dan O’Neil says… Be the change you wish to see in the world (Gandhi). The world is in exactly the shape that we have created for it – some people like it, others don’t. Together we are responsible for it.
I think you’d need a particularly strong constitution to live this kind of life.
Wouldn’t you find it hard to keep looking at things in a positive life as the negative messages are constantly bombarding you?
Good in theory though Dan!
Dan O’Neil says… If you only see the positive messages, how could the negative ones hold any sway?
Dan – I see far too many people living on the dark side, always taking the negative thought. It is like they want you to join their “pity party” and commiserate with them. These people tend to have a tough time moving forward in life and sit as complainers, fully expecting someone to fix the system and solve the problems. Often this is directed toward the government or a class of people. It can build into a convenient excuse for not reaching their own potential … a cop-out.
Dan O’Neil says… You are right – the vast majority of people live their lives this way.
yeah, ur correct! we, as a person has a right to choose..if u choose to be bad, that is ur decision, we are the one who choose the best thing in our lives..
Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Sashelie.
i choose to live in world without fear, war, or negativity but we all need few problems in our life i remember i read study once that people who life without any problems die young , i guess every one has its limit and ability to Handel problems
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Dan O’Neil says… That’s a really interesting point. I think you can choose to participate in the challenges that interest you most. Without challenge, there is no opportunity to learn. Thanks.
[...] I love this article. It aligns with my own personal belief that we CHOOSE our lives. We CHOOSE our responses to things. We CHOOSE the outcome. Sort of like ‘is the glass half full or half empty?’. It’s a matter of choice. Mine is half full. We can choose to change our thoughts and that will change the outcome of any situation. Don’t sit idly by and say, ‘my life takes control of me, I have no choice’.. no, YOU get to choose to take control of your life or any situation. Make YOURSELF happy. Align your thoughts with how you want the situation to turn out. Watch your life go smoothly and exactly how you want it to. It’s not rocket science. It’s just a matter of choice. [...]