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It’s All Good March 12, 2010

Posted by nrhatch in Life Balance, Mindfulness.
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Yesterday, a writer took me to task for using the phrase It’s All Good.

He challenged my use of the statement, citing the Holocaust, the Ku Klux Klan, and animal abuse, as evidence to the contrary.

He expressed concern that people who attempt to encompass reality in simplistic truisms (such as It’s All Good and Don’t Worry, Be Happy), are not looking clearly at the whole picture ~ they are ignoring reality by glossing over its ugliness.

His post inspired me to offer this explanation of what It’s All Good means to me.

Some people recite the Serenity Prayer when reality intrudes too deeply, robbing them of peace of mind:

God grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
To change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

When I say, It’s All Good, it serves the same purpose.

Despite its simplicity, this three word phrase reminds me:  to look within * to remain in the present moment * to focus on the blessings in my life * to view others with kindness and compassion (even if they have been harsh with me) * to reclaim my serenity and peace of mind * to accept that not everything is under my control * to recognize that sometimes I don’t get a vote * to let go of anger, hurt, jealousy, and fear at the earliest opportunity * to not get caught up in wild imaginings about the future * to accept the what is * to recognize that most clouds reveal their silver linings eventually * to use my limited time and energy wisely * to let go of attachments and expectations * to strive to be happy.

Sure, there is ugliness in the world, but the whole of life is good.

In any forest, at least a few trees are diseased and dying ~ that is the nature of impermanence, evidence of the constant change inherent in life.

If we focus our attention exclusively on those trees, we miss the grand tapestry of the forest as a whole and our happiness is diminished in the process.

When I say It’s All Good, I am not oblivious to the diseased and dying trees, but I do not let them blind me to the wonder of the forest.  I remind myself not to miss the miracle of this moment . . . right here, right now.

Letting go of attachments and expectations, to embrace the good of it all, allows our spirits to evolve, change and grow, from tiny ripples of peace and acceptance, to tidal waves of love and compassion.

So, for now at least, I’ll keep my mantra:  It’s All Good. 

No rules.  Just write!