I woke up this morning and realized that I had not written my Love Note and wondered what in the world I would write about that could possibly make a difference. I opened up my laptop, and up popped a page of my companion journal to Joy Is My Favorite Color. But before I show you what popped up, let me tell you what has been running through my head and my heart.
It really is about the head and the heart. Just like the saying, “Out of the heart come the issues of life.” What I have inside will ALWAYS come out. I cannot produce something different from what I am carrying inside of my heart.
So here is what popped up, and I want to share my thoughts on this and how it not only impacts our lives, but is also a vital component of a successful business. I know I have spoken and written on this before, but it is one of my values that is truer than true and becomes more true as I live.
Kind thoughts can change the way we see ourselves, others, and the situations we face.
WRITING PROMPT:
Think of a person or situation that has been difficult for you. What would change if you chose to look at it through the lens of kindness, understanding, or forgiveness?
Through the years, I have learned to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. I imagine that people have the best intentions, and when they don’t, I realize that I have zero control over that. I do, however, have 100 percent control over my actions and reactions. I have 100 percent control over whether to employ the act of forgiveness as a tool for greater peace in my life. It is 100 percent effective!!! 100 percent of the time.
So I am throwing around that 100 percent quite a lot, but it is because I have seen the evidence in the lives of others and in myself. I speak to people all the time, especially in business, and people say, “But they said this, and they said that.” But all I want to know is, “What did you say? What did I say? What was my part in it?” I have found that if I do NOT react to someone who is speaking unkindly toward me, it defuses the situation. But if I react, I keep the flame alive.
There is an old story about Leonardo da Vinci that illustrates this beautifully. A version of this story, titled Painting Judas, was shared by M. E. Loewen in Signs of the Times in November 1968. Although it is considered a legend rather than a verified historical event, I believe its message is worth sharing.
The story is told that while Leonardo da Vinci was working on his masterpiece, The Last Supper, he had a terrible argument with another painter. The disagreement left him angry, bitter, and determined to get even.
So Leonardo decided to take his revenge in a rather unusual way. He would paint the face of the man who had offended him as Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. That way, the man’s face would be remembered for generations as the face of a betrayer. And that is exactly what he did.
But as Leonardo continued working on his masterpiece, he came to the most important face of all, the face of Jesus. And he couldn’t paint it.
He tried again and again, but nothing seemed right. His creativity seemed to disappear. Something was keeping him from completing his masterpiece. Eventually, Leonardo realized that the bitterness he was carrying toward the other painter was standing between him and the work he was meant to do.
He had become so consumed with getting even that he had lost sight of what really mattered. So he returned to the painting, removed the likeness of his enemy from the face of Judas, and let go of his resentment. Only then was he able to paint the face of Jesus and complete his masterpiece.
Sometimes the very thing keeping us from creating something beautiful in our own lives is the bitterness we refuse to release.
I know the world may believe that lack of forgiveness has nothing to do with business, but I believe that anything we hold on to that is not of love and forgiveness will cripple anything we try to create. I also believe that how I feel about others, whether you feel it is warranted or not, will either move my life forward or keep me stuck.
Maybe think of this journal entry and think if there is anyone you need to forgive or anyone you need to give grace to. And remember, the whole essence of who we are at our company is this:
The only people we have to get even with are those that have helped us!!!!
I believe we have many to get even with in the best kind of way.
I am so thankful for all of you!!!
grateful,
karen
