The "Negative" Side Of Life Has a Purpose.

                        

I was sitting around pondering how we talk about balance and harmony in our lives and that perfection is not what we should be seeking but yet (and I have been guilty of this myself) we tell ourselves and others to not have any negative thoughts or avoid negative people. While I will acknowledge that keeping these experiences down to a minimum is desirable, if we are truly living they cannot and should not be avoided.

I have come to realize that those things we call "negative" actually have a place and a purpose in our lives. We live in a world full of dichotomies: up/down; left/right; happy/sad, and positive/negative. And if we are truly living in harmony and balance, both the positive and negative are part of the whole. What I have come to learn is really important, and that is to embrace it all for it all is part of life. And of course this quote just happened to show up in my email today:

"Someone once asked Norman Vincent Peale, 'Don't you think life would be better if we had fewer problems?' Peale said, 'I'll be happy to take you to Woodlawn Cemetery, because the only people I know who don't have any problems are dead.' The point is we can't avoid problems, so we might as well expect them and embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow." ~ Mac Anderson, author, Charging the Human Battery http://www.macanderson.com/

So truly, we should not be seeking a life with no problems, challenges and/or negative experiences for they also help us on our path. We should not however dwell in that space but rather learn from all our experiences and move onward and upward.

In her book, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, Debbie Ford makes the truly valid point for acknowledging and embracing the "dark" side of ourselves because we all have it. Some call it our shadow side and while we do not want that dark side to be at the forefront of who we are, it does in fact serve a purpose, if for no other reason than to remind us of who we truly are and what we want to show the world. http://www.debbieford.com/

Negative things happen to us all but if we look at them as another way to learn and grow as Mac Anderson suggested, then are they truly "negative"? I say no, for anything that helps us with our growth must be positive.

So, allow yourself to experience those so called "negative" events. Just recognize what they are and how they can help us. Do not dwell in that space but do not ignore it either for it is part and parcel of who we are as humans. And especially we need not feel guilty or ashamed if we have negative thoughts about anything. We do however, want to acknowledge those thoughts and discover why we are having them. What do we need to work on? How can we learn and grow from them?

I am blessed to have you read my blog and I truly hope I have provided you with some food for thought. Please share your comments, thoughts and suggestions.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

 Author - Rare Sense, One Day It Will be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life
harry@harryshade.com
http://www.harryshade.com/

I Choose To Be Positive

I often get asked, you are always so positive has anything really bad ever happened in your life?

My answer, of course it has; I have been divorced twice, I have been and currently am not financially sound , my father passed away suddenly several years ago, I have witnessed the worst that human beings can do to each other in my law enforcement career; I have had a baby die in my arms as the result of a drunk driver and if not for the kindness and compassion of friends, I could even have been homeless.

Now, I am not "always" positive but that is what I choose to put out in the world. I have my moments when I am angry, frustrated or sad. I do not ignore such feelings nor bury them, I feel them and allow them to come.

One difference between me and others who perhaps do not see the positivity in things is that I choose to be positive and see the positive. I also choose not to put judgement on things, like this was a "bad" and that was a "good". Or that was "right" and that was "wrong". Or that was a "mistake".

I do my best to be humble and grateful. I do my best to be kind, caring and compassionate. I do my best to use that which does not serve me to continue to discover what does.

I have grown and evolved to the point where those type of judgements simply do not serve me or allow me to live a life of joy. So, I see all things as blessings because they all have both laid the foundation for my life and continue to allow me to grow and evolve.

Do I consider myself better than anyone else? No!

I do however strive to be a better version of myself than I was the day before. I continue to do my best to take personal responsibility for everything because even though I do not control everything everyone else does, I have control over how I react to it and what actions I will take because of it.

Did all this happen overnight? Not so much! :-)

I am who I am today because of many years of experience and I am not done growing and evolving yet. I still have much work to do on me. I can still be stubborn or obstinate, and yet even that serves me, if I allow it to do so. If in no other way than to remind me that I have more work to do. Of course one could always look on the "positive" side and say that I am actually persistent and determined. ;-)

One thing that I do know, is that I have the power of choice and like any power, it comes with personal responsibility. And so, while "bad" things do happen, I have done much deep personal work that allows me to choose to see the positive in them.

I choose to continue to project that positivity to the world for two reasons. First and foremost because that is the energy and space I love to live in and secondly, because if by doing so, I can brighten up or help even one person be better themselves in that moment, then I feel I am contributing in a positive way.

When I look back on my life, it brings a huge smile to my face because there have definitely been a gazillion more positive things that have happened in my life than negative and even the negative has had a profoundly positive impact.I know that if you chose to look at your life, I dare say that for a majority of you, you can say the same.

So, just because I project positivity in every moment I can, it does not mean that "negativity" has not touched my life. It just means, I have chosen to see the "positivity" in it.

May you be blessed always and in all ways! 

Harry 

My View of America Today

Given all that is happening with this 2016 presidential election cycle, I put my thoughts together on my view of America.

  

I do not agree that we have to make America great again. I will agree that this great experiment needs some nurturing and that we can do better.

As a military veteran, who comes from a long line of military veterans, I know it is a place worth defending because we live in a country that is the envy of many, given the freedom and opportunities that are available to everyone who lives here.

I know it is a place of hope as many thousands of  people still risk it all to come here. I know it is a place of beauty and grandeur as reflected not only in the American people but also in our natural resources, our spirits, our smiles and our willingness to help one another.

I know it is a place of dreams, where one can not only dream of a new future but actually attain it with support, dedication, drive, determination and desire.  The means and resources to take those dreams and make them into reality are available if one is willing to do the work, sacrifice and seek them out.

I know it is a place of wonder, awe and discovery, where everyone is encouraged to create a life of peace, harmony, and security for themselves and their families.

I know that it is a place of diversity, as the “melting pot” of the world, we have the most diverse population on the globe, which is one of our strengths because from diversity comes tolerance, acceptance, inclusion, strength and compassion.

Finally, I know it is a place of community and love, as we dedicate our lives to service to humanity.

As Americans, we know it is our responsibility to ensure that the ideals that helped birth this great nation are not only preserved here, but also shared with the world to assist with the growth and evolution of us as a species.

Some might say that I have a romantic and perhaps even unrealistic notion of what America is and to that I say, America is more than a country.  It is a promise of a better life.  It is an idea forged through courage, sacrifice and will.  And, while things in America are not perfect, it still is and will always be a beacon of light to the world, because of the people, their dreams, ideas, and the freedoms we enjoy.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry E. Shade

We Are All Masters and Gurus In Our Own Way

We Are All Masters and Gurus In Our Own Way

PublicFriendsOnly MeCustomClose FriendsCEO Space InternationalSee all lists...Las Vegas, Nevada AreaP/Q ListFlorida ConnectionTexasCalifornia ConnectionsA ListSanta Maria, California AreaJonathan AlderCanadaArizonaColumbus, Ohio AreaThe Ohio State UniversityMarvelous Mondays with Harry & PhilInnovision Global, LLCFamilyAustraliaUnited States ArmyNevadaCEO SpaceWashingtonCEO SpaceLos AngelesThe Men's ClubGeorgiaNFHS Class of '78Alder Local SchoolsFWIOregonMy 100New MexicoMM GuestsColoradoCoachesJ#2Newton FallsM ListD ListL ListK ListC ListT ListB ListS#2R ListUVWXYZ ListOhio ConnectionJ ListS ListG ListColumbus ConnectionE ListN ListInner CircleH ListF ListI ListFlorida Connection #2Florida Connection #3Marvelous Mondays Expert PanelCircle of TrustO List295th The HerdConferenceNew York New YorkInnovision GlobalNew ZealandUnited KingdomRaising DaughtersIrelandMissouriVirginiaVeteransNew JerseyMichiganRaising FathersCarMaxAlder Local SchoolsAlder Local SchoolsGo Back

OK, let me explain. I have heard the terms "master" and "guru" tossed out, thrown around and used ad nauseam.

And it seems to me most people who either call themselves "masters" or "gurus" or people who discuss a "master/guru" always want to put them on a pedestal and yet, those who truly have mastered something are typically the most humble people you will even meet and would rather you did not do so.

To dig into this a bit further, I looked up definitions for master and guru and here is what I discovered:

Master:

1. A skilled practitioner of a particular art or activity.
2. Having or showing very great skill or proficiency.
3. Acquire complete knowledge or skill in.
4. Gain control of; overcome.

Guru:

1. A teacher and especially intellectual guide in matters of fundamental concern.
2. A leading authority in a particular field

Correct if I am wrong, but does anyone see the word "perfect" in any of these definitions?

So many people feel less than because they are not a "master" or "guru" and yet if we really thlnk about, we have all overcome something. We all have something in which we have great skill. And we are all teachers in our own way.

 And "masters" know better than anyone else that they will continue to grow and evolve and so they keep at it, most do not simply rest on their laurels, otherwise those skills will most certainly diminish. They know they are not infallible, that they too have made many mistakes along the way to mastery.

Oh, by the way, having great great skill, knowledge or proficiency and using it are two completely different things my friends.

I would imagine, if we sat all the "masters" and "gurus" down and talked with them, they would all say as Jesus did, "All of this and more; so shall you do."

Now, go out and "master" you and be your own "guru". If you are going to look to anyone, let it be YOU, for you are all worthy of the titles, most of you just have not discovered it yet. And yes, certainly admire those who have "mastered" things but do not think yourself to be "less than" in their presence.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

http://www.harryshade.com

See Yourself

Yes, let us all see this together!

‪#‎raresense‬ ‪#‎beingmarvelous‬ ‪#‎harryshade‬ ‪#‎baldguynamedharry

I SEE YOU!

I SEE YOU! 

While I know that those words have been spoken before, they have taken on a new meaning and perhaps even more importance ever since they were uttered on the big screen in Avatar and I was reminded how powerful those words are when I watched the movie again here recently.

I SEE YOU!

It is those things that we see as different that separates us and thus can cause conflict. I know one way we can resolve our issues and that is to approach each other from the basic level that we all share together and that is as human beings. If we simply start and end there, then nothing else will really matter.

I SEE YOU! 

For me, when I look at another person, I see no race, creed, nationality, religion or sex, rather simply another human being.

I SEE YOU!

By taking that approach to life, we can heal this world and it's conflicts. We will no longer tolerate any human being starving to death, being tortured or denied the basic necessities of life.

I SEE YOU!

By truly seeing each other we will naturally progress to live in peace and harmony with each other and the world around us. Which means it will no longer be acceptable to treat our home, Mother Earth, with the disdain and disrespect that we do.

I SEE YOU!

What do these words mean to you? Do you see me? To me, it means the end of separation, fear, war, hunger and pain and the dawning of a new world of love, peace, joy, harmony and prosperity for all!

I SEE YOU!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Love and light,

Harry

Vibrational Match and Alignment With Purpose

As I continue the experiment of videotaping my live radio show, this week I present my show Rare Sense Thoughts and the theme of Vibrational Match and Alignment With Purpose. Now, the sound is a bit scrathcy in places and I am still working on the lighting but once again, I had fun. I will continue to improve things, in the meantime, I hope you can find some useful information in this segment.

May you be blessed always and in all ways.












Harry Shade
http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/harryshade