THE RITE OF WRONG

You hit me... I hit you. You hit me again and I strike back. And so begins an eye for an eye for an eye...

A perpetual cycle of violence is created out of the endless desire for retribution; which is borne out of bruised ego and the inane need to assert oneself having been wronged. It is here that the so-called "pecking order" is created which is the very seat of power as we know it. The only way to break this passage of ongoing destructive behaviour demands out-of-the-box thinking like the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in South Africa, which created a climate for considerable social healing in a very innovative way.

Out first primal reaction to having been wronged is to strike back. That is the "animal" in every human where a defence instinct causes us to snarl and even to bite before considering a more powerful and meaningful reaction. The testosterone laden mind seeks revenge, because this is seen as the route to getting even and better still, a misplaced notion to getting ahead.

But when we begin to study the dynamics of energy, which is the foundation of modern quantum physics, we discover that nothing happens randomly. The root of everything (in human terms) begins with a thought which sets up a stream of energy. As this energy moves into the ether, so it causes a reaction which in turn evokes a whole chain of response. As humanity hopefully moves to greater degrees of civilisation, so we would expect enhanced consciousness to create the framework for more appropriate reactions to the ways in which we have been wronged. Rather than thoughtlessly hitting back with the intention to cause harm, it would serve us to stop and think before doing anything. Correct intention is everything!

When we begin to fully understand why someone may have wronged us, more often than not we start to see an imperfection in ourselves that deserves our attention and requisite action, thereby starting another small quest to really be MORE! People who suffer the wrong of abuse can often trace this hurt back to inadequate levels of self-love and the inability to create adequate personal boundaries. In that situation, best to first work on building adequate self-love rather than vengefully seeking retribution. It is more effective to deal with the real cause of our hurt rather than unthinkingly applying a violent response to the obvious symptom.

Many find forgiveness difficult because it effectively closes the door on retribution. Forgiveness always brings closure and considerable healing! It is not so much about letting someone off a hook, because history can never be re-written. But forgiveness dissolves "baggage" and creates an awesome lightness of being for the road ahead. All the great personalities in history chose to forgive and as a result, changed history for many others in the most profound way. Think of Jesus, of Gandhi and Mandela! These men made a better future for all because they steadfastly refused to play out the rite of wrong.

Before you lash out again, stop and think and do the "right" thing. Find the path to becoming MORE by breaking your cycle of destructive response. This is not about getting the upper hand, but more about progressing beyond your wildest dreams!