Spiritual Wisdom Applied to World Events-9-21-16

Barbara Brady – Transformational Coach – barbara@mycoachbarbara.com – 828-989-1980
Copyright © 2016 Barbara Brady, all rights reserved.
Spiritual Wisdom Applied to World Events for Our
Loved Ones, Clients & Communities
- Barbara Brady, August, 2014
Note: The information in this document was originally presented on two separate interactive
teleconference calls with global coaches from the Global Coaches Network:
(http://www.globalcoaches.com/). While the original talks were geared to Global Coaches, this
information applies to all of us; especially as we engage more in communicating, living and
working across boundaries and cultures.
Introduction
In light of what happened not only with the Orlando shootings June 12th, but with other
violent attacks before Orlando: Paris, London, New Delhi, Norway, Moscow, Madrid, Mumbai,
etc., and since Orlando: Istanbul, Bangladesh, Baghdad, and Saudi Arabia, some questions
came to mind I feel would be valuable for us to discuss and explore from a spiritual
(love/compassion/wisdom) perspective:
~ How do each of us maintain our center, and stand in love, peace, and the light, in the midst
of suffering, fighting and violence around the world?
~ How do we nurture our own spirits and be a healing, loving presence for others without
being pulled into a downward spiral of blame, judgment, and negativity prevalent in mass
consciousness?
~ How do we hold a space of openness, acceptance and love for clients who may have
beliefs and views diametrically opposed to ours?
~ How do we find the spiritual in the everyday; in our clients, in leadership? What are the
signs of spirit?
~ How do we take a painful event, like Orlando, Istanbul or something similar, and turn it into
something meaningful and positive for ourselves and others?
Who do you want to be, and what are you willing to commit to, in terms of how you show
up for yourself, your loved ones, clients, community, and the world?
In this call we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in these questions. I’ll offer
perspectives from my work in Interfaith Ministry, Grief Recovery and Spiritual Intelligence, that
have helped me, and we’ll have an open discussion where you can share your questions,
challenges, and higher wisdom gleaned from your own traditions and experiences.

Here we are, in August, 2016. It appears there’s a lot of darkness in the world – perhaps more
than ever. But I don’t believe in putting too much credence in appearances.
Is there more violence in the world than ever before? Or is it just that we are privy to what’s
happening in every corner of the globe instantaneously through social media, phone cameras
and the news? I choose to think it’s the latter.
I. How do each of us maintain our center, and stand in love, peace, and the light, in the
midst of suffering, fighting and violence around the world?
For me, it helps to remember and align with the Truth about who I believe I and every one of us
is- an eternal, divine being, created in the image and likeness of God, the Universe, Source-
however you term it. If you don’t believe in God or that you’re eternal, you can still choose to
align with your higher self vs. ego self- with that part of you that’s noble, wise and
compassionate vs. small, fear-based and petty.
Next, it’s essential to make sure my focus is not on external conditions which are outside my
control and ever changing, but instead on the Truth which is eternal and never changing. I
believe there’s divine order and not chaos as appearances seem to indicate.
I believe that we carry this divine connection with our source within us at all times “Nothing can
separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38) We are this love, expressing as powerful
divine human beings at this time on planet earth. There are two realities going on. There’s the
world of the absolute and world of duality. In the realm of Oneness, of the Absolute, there is no
victim, perpetrator and rescuer. There are only powerful co-creators in this play called “Life on
Planet Earth 21st
century” There is only one. And it is only by focusing on this Truth that we can
be centered, aligned in our divinity; and beacons of light, love and truth to all whose lives we
touch. And only then, can we be of service to anyone, as we stand in the knowing of who each
of us is, affirming that the highest and best is happening with, through and as all, even while we
may choose to send love and light energy to everyone affected by this violence – including
those committing those acts.
A. Find thoughts that will give you a greater sense of peace or relief about what is
happening that are believable to you:
1. There’s a verse from the Bible that gives me comfort whether I’m thinking about the
violence that’s been occurring around the world, or even the presidential election coming
up- Mathew 10:29 "Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren't they? Yet not one of them
will fall to the ground without your Father's permission.”
2. I ask myself “Do I really believe that the same Presence/Source/God that created
universes and galaxies, all the humans, animals, and perfect lilies and snowflakes,
mangos and tomatoes, musical notes and turquoise, violet and gold, emeralds, opals
and diamonds, fireflies and bonfires, would allow any type of violence or pain to occur

outside divine order? If we believe what we say we do, that would be impossible, for
God, this presence, is perfection itself.
3. I choose to believe that what’s been happening with violent extremism in the states and
elsewhere as a reflection of the shadow side residing in our collective consciousness
that is being brought into the light so it can be healed. We all hold within us the capacity
to behave like Mother Theresa or Hitler. If you believe we’re “all one”, created by the
same God/Force/Universe, then each of us is Orlando, Nice, Istanbul, everyone who
was killed or injured, and each of us is also the perpetrator. We can’t have it both ways.
We’re either all one or we’re not.
4. It helps me to wonder “What if, before this incarnation, we were called together to see
what roles we wanted to play, to help evolve the consciousness of humanity? What if
some of us said “Okay, I’ll be a light bearer and will help others remember their divinity”,
and others said “I’ll be gay, to teach others about unconditional love and inclusion; not
only that, I’ll be part of many who make a positive difference when we’re young, then
leave the planet early in life while in our joy at a night club through a violent attack that
brings to light the necessity of inclusion and love for all” another said “I’ll be Muslim, and
in temporarily disconnecting from Source, I’ll allow myself to experience horrible
isolation, alienation, disconnection and rejection. This will lead me to help show the
world what needs to be healed in religion, and religious discrimination, through violent
killings. This will help wake people up to the truth of who each of us is, and will
eventually lead to a world of inclusion, connection, and equality for all.” And another said
“I’ll be African American, unjustly killed by a white police officer, to bring to light race
relations that need to be healed in the U.S.” Another “I’ll be a white police officer, killed
by a sniper with several others, to illuminate the fear that exists on both sides, and to
show violence is not the answer and the time is now to heal our relationships with our
African American brothers and sisters.” This gives me some relief.
B. The 2nd
steps is to develop a practice to transform your suffering and that of others:
1. Tonglen practice by Pema Chodron is a method for connecting with suffering
-our own and that which is all around us, everywhere we go. It is a method for
overcoming our fear of suffering and for dissolving the tightness of our hearts. Primarily it
is a method for awakening the compassion that is inherent in all of us, no matter how
cruel or cold the world might seem to be. (http://www.lionsroar.com/transforming-the-
heart-of-suffering/)
We begin the practice by taking on the suffering of a person whom we know to be
hurting and wish to help. For instance, if we know of a person suffering because one of
their family members was killed in an act of violence, we breathe in with the wish to take
away all of that person’s sadness, anger and fear. Then, as we breathe out, we send
peace, happiness, joy, or whatever would relieve the person. This is the core of the
practice: breathing in others’ pain so they can be well and have more space to relax and

open - breathing out, sending them relaxation or whatever we feel would bring them
relief and happiness.
2. Another practice is the 4-step Ho’oponopono from Hawaii. This is the practice used
by the Hawaiian therapist who cured an entire ward of criminally insane patients, without
ever meeting any of them or spending a moment in the same room.
(http://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/practice-hooponopono-four-simple-steps/)
You can “say” the words in your head. The power is in the feeling and in the willingness
of the Universe to forgive and love.
Step 1: Repentance – I’M SORRY
You start by practicing this method on your more obvious “in here” problems and see
results,
Step 2: Ask Forgiveness – PLEASE FORGIVE ME
Step 3: Gratitude – THANK YOU
Step 4: Love – I LOVE YOU
Mean it. Feel it. There is nothing as powerful as Love.
That’s it. The whole practice in a nutshell. Simple and amazingly effective.
II. How do we nurture our spirits and be a healing, loving presence for others without being
pulled into a downward spiral of blame, judgment, and negativity?
A. The first step is guarding your focus and setting boundaries around exposure to the news,
negative situations and people. While it’s helpful to know enough about what’s going on in
the world so that we can each do our part to add to the light and love in the world, it’s even
more important to know just how much exposure works best for you, so that you know
enough to help you discern how to best focus and channel your energy, yet not so much
that you’re dragged down into the negativity of mass consciousness, and even worse, fall
into debilitating fear that limits your ability to enjoy life and live it fully – whether it means you
don’t take that trip to Europe you’ve been planning or even go to a gathering in your city to
enjoy a musical event or fireworks.
It’s also important to realize none of us are immune from the negative effects of negativity –
so mitigate your time with people and situations that negative. If you’re going to watch the
news, do so with the intention of adding to the light by sending loving kindness to everyone
involved, vs. judgment. Watch your own focus and triggers. If you continue to watch news
about Donald Trump, knowing you’re triggered negatively hearing anything about him, then

you’re giving your power away and adding to the negativity on the planet. Switch the
channel or turn the TV off or walk away and focus on something that makes you feel good.
B. While #1 is important, to maintain equanimity and avoid a downward spiral of
negativity it is important to generate compassion by trying to understand potential
views and behaviors of ISIS and other extremists. Our hearts open when we can
understand what’s happening with another – then it’s easier to find compassion for them –
as unwelcome as that thought may be for a member of ISIS. If you had a knee that wasn’t
working properly, and you felt a lot of pain every time you moved, would you hate that knee,
yell at it, and wish it would go away? You might – but for true healing to take place, you
need to love that part of you that’s painful; to objectify the pain in your knee, perhaps giving
it a name, and asking it what it is there to tell you. What does it want? Only then, when it
feels heard, can that pain hope to depart. The depth of pain and suffering in the psyche of
the perpetrators of such violent acts is evident by the nature of these acts. While you may
not feel called to focus on these people, it can help to understand how and why they may
have arrived where they are.
According to Melanie Greenburg, President and CEO of the Alliance for
Peacebuilding, (http://www.allianceforpeacebuilding.org/) research in the field of
Countering Violent Extremism concludes that the most consistent drivers of violence include
perceptions of marginalization and injustice, exposure to violence, feelings of isolation, and
the belief that joining a violent movement holds the best prospects of achieving justice or
purpose. Marginalization, discrimination, alienation and rejection are some key social drivers
of violent extremism. Islamophobia – which leads to marginalization and discrimination –
therefore doesn’t defeat violent extremism, it helps grow it.
Perpetrators of violence are part of us. They’re part of our human collective. Dr. Susan Fisk
(http://www.fiskelab.org/) has written about how we develop bias, loathing and distain for
some people based on “the warmth and competency scale… we categorize people as friend
or foe depending on where they fall on this graph – If Low in both – treat with loathing or
disdain- and easier to de-humanize the person. :
A practice to recognize our common humanity is called “just like me”. Ask yourself, “How is
this person I’m loathing, just like me?” -e.g. ., they have a favorite vegetable, like me - Just
like me this is someone’s brother or sister, son or daughter, friend. “Just like me, this person
wishes to be happy and be free from suffering…” “Just like me, this person is a human
being. “
The power of “Just like me” can take us from dehumanization to re-humanization.
C. (Nurturing our spirit): What do you currently do to nurture your spirit? Or even your
physical body, your heart, or mind? Practicing acts of self-care is self-love, and goes a long
way to help you connect with the Peace that is always there, because it’s who you truly are.
Taking time to care for yourself also fills up your gumball machine, so if you want to be a

healing, loving presence for others, it’s easy, because you’re filled up with self-care and self-
love, vs. depleted.
Ways I nurture my spirit include: talking with a friend who makes me laugh, blowing bubbles,
taking a nap, cuddling with my cats, painting while listening to Brazilian music, jogging in the
woods, getting together with girlfriends, dancing, reading an inspirational article or book,
listening to music I love, taking a lavender bubble bath, eating some delicious pizza or
pasta, yogic breathing. What is it for you? How about planning at least one small thing you
can do each day to nurture yourself?
III. How do we hold a space of openness, acceptance and love for clients who may have beliefs
and views diametrically opposed to ours?
In her book “Practicing Peace in Times of War”, Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, says “We
often complain about other people’s fundamentalism. But whenever we harden our hearts, what
is going on with us? http://pemachodronfoundation.org/ There is uneasiness, then a tightening,
then a shutting down, and then the next thing we know the chain reaction begins and we
become very righteous about our right to kill the mosquito or yell at the person in the car or
whatever it might be. We ourselves become fundamentalists, which is to say we become very
self-righteous about our own personal point of view. “She goes on to say “A fundamentalist mind
is a mind that has become rigid. First the heart closes then the mind becomes hardened into a
view, then you can justify your hatred of another human being because of what they represent
and what they say and do. ..There will never be peace until somebody softens what is rigid in
their heart and you can never hate somebody if you stand in their shoes.
So with our clients, we must soften our hearts. We must come from a place of curiosity and
not judgment. The only way for any possibility of shifting someone is through being that which
we want to see. If we want our client to be more loving, open, and compassionate and wise, we
must exhibit not only that behavior, but be in that resonance. We must find a way to be open,
loving and accepting of them. It doesn’t mean we have to agree with their viewpoint, but we
have to see the divine within them, and realize that given their life experiences and
circumstances, they also have every right to believe what they do. I find great relief in knowing
it’s not my place to judge, and I’m never going to forge a connection and opening with that in the
way. I also find it helps if I remember we really all want the same things – going back to “just like
me” – they too love their family, they too want to feel safe and be happy. They too, have
aspirations and things they care about.
IV. How do we find the spiritual in the everyday; in our clients, in leadership? What are the
signs of spirit?
I believe we see what we expect to see. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just as we know
people who see the cup as half full or half empty, we know those who choose to see the best in
others. Based on my belief that God created all, I find it easy to see spirit in the everyday –
sunlight through the trees, birds chirping, French roast coffee, music. We find that which we

want to see when open ourselves us, and get out of our heads, and judgments. I see it in
actions of kindness and compassion – both for oneself and others. I see it in a smile. I feel it in a
hug. For me it comes through qualities exhibited of presence – it’s a gift to be with someone
totally present with you when everything is moving so fast. It comes in vulnerability – this shows
someone’s heart is open and they’re trusting you with their heart. It comes in authenticity, and
acts of service. It comes in forgiveness – for little and big things. Through genuine connection. I
had a client last week who told me he wanted me to take 15 minutes and go with him to listen to
a presentation by an intern at the company of her experience there. This was a young woman
from a poor background who, towards the end of her 10 minute talk started to cry. I asked her
what she was feeling in that moment. She said she was nervous. I suggested perhaps she felt
sad she had such a wonderful 3 months and it was ending. When I saw that first tear make its
way down her cheek, I felt an even deeper connection with her. I wanted to help in any way I
could.
V. Finally, how do we take a painful event and turn it into something meaningful and
positive for ourselves and others?
A. First is Self-Reflection: Ask yourself “How am I inflicting pain on myself and others whether
through thoughts, words or actions, and how can I start shifting that today to act more
lovingly and consciously?” Practicing self-reflection daily helps us learn our triggers,
recognize triggers and not always point finger at the other person, blaming them. only then
can you get to place of deep listening
To have lasting change, we must focus on the root cause(s) of why this is happening, again
and again. Each of us must clean out our own “house” first and see where and how we’re
embodying what’s not love, peace or the light. If it’s true that marginalization, discrimination,
alienation and rejection are some key social drivers of violent extremism, I need to ask
where and how I’ve marginalized, discriminated against, alienated or rejected others, or
myself, whether in action or thought? I’m sure I’ve done it thinking about both Trump and
Clinton. If I do it with anyone, I’m doing it to myself and to everyone else. There are no
exceptions. What would be the opposite of those social drivers of violent extremism? The
opposite of marginalizing someone would be to value, celebrate, and praise them. The
opposite of discrimination is justice, fairness, equality; the opposite of alienation is
connection or endearment. And the opposite of rejection is welcoming and accepting.
So then the question becomes, “How can I accept, connect with, value, and celebrate
myself and others more?” “How can I treat myself and others fairly and equitably?” “How can
I help ensure my interactions with myself and others are relational vs. transactional? And
“How can I align more often with my divinity vs. ego, and be a clear, open channel for more
love and compassion for others and myself?”

These are big questions. Tools that can aid you in your self-reflection:
1. Byron Katie’s “Judge your neighbor” worksheet. (http://thework.com/en) Also, when
I find I’m judging another, I hear a voice inside saying “Oh, Barbara, and you’ve never
done that, or something similar?” This instantly humbles me, which helps me drop the
judgment and have compassion.
2. Asking how you’re being a fundamentalist? In her book “Practicing Peace in
Times of War” Pema Chodron says “We often complain about other people’s
fundamentalism. But whenever we harden our hearts, what is going on with us? There’s
an uneasiness, then a tightening, then a shutting down then we yell or whatever. Then
we ourselves become fundamentalists which is to say we become very self-righteous
about our own personal point of view. A fundamentalist mind is a mind that has become
rigid. We can justify our hatred of another human being because of what they represent
and what they say and do. Ask yourself “How or where am I being a fundamentalist?
3. Journaling a conversation with God, your angels, or spirit. Ask questions. Wait, be
still, and write what you get from the divine/your higher self.
B. Meditation. Ask “Please show me where I’m called in light of this? How can I joyfully
serve? Ask for signs.
C. Action
Then, take action where you feel called. Make sure any action is FOR something you want, vs.
AGAINST something you don’t want.
If you’re not sure where you’re called, decide on a daily intention, for example: My intention is to
show up today as the qualities of patience and peace; then be alert to what you’re being called
to in each moment. For example, when noticing you’re triggered, pause, breathe deeply in and
out. This will calm the limbic system. You can let yourself feel the feeling, knowing that it will
change, and let it pass through you.
Also, Pema suggests if you notice someone’s been triggered in a conversation with you, be
curious and ask how they feel about what you just said. If the conversation is too heated,
suggest talking again at another time.
“The more we can create a collective consciousness that’s predominately peaceful and loving
by elevating ourselves as individuals, the less likely hate and violence will show up on our
planet. It starts with each one of us.

Spiritual Wisdom Applied to World Events-9-21-16

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