Moments That Redefine Our Perception Of The World
Time stopped and my heart dropped into my stomach when I turned on my TV this morning to watch my usual Sunday morning political shows. Instead of political chaos, I was greeted with the news that America had experienced the deadliest mass shooting in its history. Although that statistic needs to be reported, part of me wished it weren’t the headline. Now the next lost soul will plan to set the casualty bar higher when they enact their plan. Sadly there will be other tragedies regardless of any laws or policies to prevent them. While this tragedy targeted the LBGT community, we are naïve to think it can’t happen to any of us.
My heart is heavy, and my eyes fill with tears when I think of the families and friends who have lost a loved one in such a surprising tragic incident. Many others are waiting in painstaking slow motion at the hospital as their injured loved ones fight to recover. We can all say a prayer for those going through the unimaginable. If you are one of those personally affected by this tragedy, know that many are sending you love and light as you transition from your state of shock to your next steps.
It is easy for us to focus our sadness, fear, and anger on the perpetrator of this tragedy. It is more challenging for us to rise above our initial feelings and focus on the efforts of the first responders, the hospitals saving the lives of those injured, and those standing in long lines to donate needed blood.
Terrorists want us to live in fear instead of love (which is one of our 31 Types of Happiness.) They want us to be willing to change the essence of our being to be afraid of the unknown. Of course we need to be practical when it comes to our safety, but we also need to be committed to staying true to our authentic selves.
Let yourself feel the sadness, fear, and anger. But don’t allow those feelings to consume your heart and soul. Instead focus on those heroes and angels bringing comfort to those directly affected by this tragedy. Then let this be one of your life sparks moments that inspires you to do something that makes your heart flutter with happiness at least for a moment. That too re-defines our world and it does so for the better.
Take a moment to let us know what you did in the comments below.
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
My sadness is their already here and we don’t even know to what extent.
Horror show has begun.
Thanks for sharing and hopefully the show will be very limited.
I sent encouragement to a friend who is personally touched by this evil.
And I reminded myself to accept that others may live in ways that I don’t like or approve; this is their right and mine. Be grateful for those who can and do and will give support to the ones who suffer regardless of the reason for the suffering. Be grateful for every person who supports our freedom to choose our way of living and to express our support or objections to others’ behaviour freely. Be patient with those who object to our free choices.
Remember that many people died to ensure our freedoms: stand up for those freedoms for ourselves and for those whose choices are different from our own. Honour all others who do the same.
And never, ever, become overwhelmed by fear. Such fear becomes a weapon in the hands of your enemies.
I’m sure your friend appreciated your support. Thank you for responding by allowing your beautiful soul to shine.l
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank, born June 12, 1929
If you know about happiness you then know sadness. Unfortunately, we can’t have one without the other. It’s which you choose to dwell on that makes a difference in your life. This, too we will over come.
– I would love to see someone in power politically to make this senseless act a political directive to declare today and every other day “world Compassion Day” to declare that we must all work together. I believe prayers can send tremendous energy and set in motion a chain reaction that can be felt around the world…. But I also know a few weeks will go by and the compassions and feelings for some will fade. That is why I say that someone in power must actually make a declaration that we must act as a Unified front . We can’t force a law but certainly to declare that we now must enter into an age of compassion will teach our chikdren that above all else love is the most important thing in the form of kindness and caring. My prayers are all I have fir now . God bless you in all you do