Your Power to Dispel the Darkness and Drive Out Hate

On the third Monday of January, it’s kinda hard to miss all the reminders that it’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. No doubt you've heard his "I Have a Dream" speech and read his writings now and then over the years.

After the events of January 6th, not quite two weeks ago now, you may be wondering how in the world we can unite our nation and conquer so much fear and hate with love. 

Just what can one person do?

Dr. King had an answer for that: 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” —Martin Luther King, Jr. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches 

Dr. King pointed the way, and it is up to us to figure out how to use light and love to make the dream our reality. 

Dr. King's love is not a weak, doormat kind of love.

It's a love that is fierce in its kindness and strong in its pursuit of equity and justice. It's a love based on doing what is right, not necessarily what is easy. 

It's the love deep inside us ready for expression and fulfillment through us, as us, at the point of us, in the world.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we want to remind you that you already know how to be the light and the love that you are. You'll find your own "how-to's" in the moment by moment good inner promptings you feel inside you. 

At any time you choose, you can take a breath and tune into that "small, still voice" or feeling inside you and feel your way forward into what is yours to say and do in the next moment.

Whether you're in a conversation, with others or even just with yourself, you can take a breath and notice if what you're saying or doing, or about to say or do, is in alignment with your "better angels". 

You'll know whether you're in alignment with your better self when your choice brings you a sense of expansion and peace rather than making you feel contracted or diminished. 

The secret is in the pause you allow yourself to stop and take a breath. That pause gives you the opportunity to move back into a state of relaxation and gives you greater access to your good inner promptings. 

To conclude, you can help make Dr. King's dream a reality in just three steps before you speak or act: 

1. Breathe and let your body and mind have a moment to pause and relax.

2. Notice and feel the sense of expansion or contraction that comes with what you could say or do. 

3. Choose the words or action that brings you more expansion and peace. Always choose expansion, even when it may not make logical sense in the moment. 

Please share this practice with anyone who is wondering how they can possibly help to unite a divided nation. As more people follow their good inner promptings, we will have more love, peace, justice and compassion in our world. 

Here’s to you, creating more Peace, Justice and Love in your world!

Jackie and Xochitl, your Joy Gypsies