“STOP THE VIOLENCE!” That’s what the sign on the placard said. I thought, how can I stop the violence? How can I stop the senseless fighting in Syria and Iraq? How could I possibly convince Islamic State to become peaceful? I can’t even stop the violence in my own neck of the woods.

The amount of violence in our world today is unconscionable. So what can I possibly do about it? What can you do? Virtually nothing! Not as long as we believe that violence is a normal part of human behaviour. No command or legislation has, or ever will, control human behaviour.

Lord knows we’ve tried. We’ve introduced more police, more laws, more restrictions, more penalties, yet all we’ve achieved is more fear. Year after year we helplessly ask the same question… “How do we stop this insanity from ever happening again?”

Condemnation, jealousy, resentment, contempt, prejudice, hatred, ridicule, loathing, scorn, sarcasm. All those negative thoughts drag us down. Perhaps you haven’t quite reach the depths of these black emotions, but what about complaining, blaming, grouchiness? Not many of us can say we don’t ‘go there‘ on occasion.

Every thought of anger and hatred is destructive. Even their milder cousins, annoyance and dislike destroy. First, they attack your own peace of mind and then they add to humanity’s collective state of fear. Each drop of negativity adds to the ocean of fear… and fear breeds attack.

“Those who do not fear do not attack or hurt others.
So to stop the violence in the world we must stop the fear in ourselves.”

Fear is an energy that when released into the world attracts and bonds with other negative energies. And when the collective level of disturbance is powerful enough, it manifests in an outbreak of violence.

You can help stop the violence by refusing to let thoughts of harm enter the world through your mind. Easier said than done? Yes but Hey! How difficult is it to continually feel the churn of anger in your gut? How would it be to feel love, compassion and understanding instead?…

 Dan’s Quote: “Each thought you have is your contribution to the world’s condition.
______________You can end violence by stopping it in yourself first.”

Inspiration for this post came from ‘Ending The Violence’~ by Karen Wright.

Header picture: ‘Camel Tours, Broome’ Western Australia