Everyone is Doing the Best They Can

The Archangels Encourage Acceptance of Others

It’s so easy to lose patience with people, politics, challenges, and the world in general these days.  There are many things to be unhappy about right now, more on the horizon, and many of us feel tired, scared, and overwhelmed.  I read yesterday that a firing squad would carry out the death penalty for a mass killer.  There are strong feelings surrounding the death penalty in general that I don’t want to get into, but what threw me for a loop was reading that it would be live streamed on national television, and I thought, “What is WRONG with you people?!”  I had visions of western movies and public hangings, guillotine executions, and Roman gladiators.  I don’t understand why anyone would want to watch that sort of thing.  I don’t even like to watch boxing matches!  Then, I wondered how many people would actually tune in, and I wondered about them, too.  THEN, I slowed my roll, and reminded myself that it’s not my place to judge others for anything, including whether or not they choose to watch such a broadcast.  Anytime I think in terms of “you people” or “them,” it’s a red flag and reminder to me that I need to stop and reconsider.  There should be no “us” and “them.”  We should be “us and we,” because we’re all in this together.

When someone doesn’t understand someone else’s choices and actions, that’s a shortcoming on the part of the observer, not the actor.  There are some people and actions I will never understand.  That’s my shortcoming, whether or not the action or the person I’m viewing is flawed in some way.  I just don’t have the capacity to understand some things.  Nobody understands everything or everyone, but that doesn’t mean the thing or person they don’t understand is wrong or that they should do things differently.

Sometimes, we just have to agree to disagree and go on about our business.  Sometimes, there is no right or wrong, except with regard to each individual.  Different doesn’t mean wrong.  There’s room for all views and ideas, or at least there should be.  We’re all entitled to our own opinions, and no one should try to force their beliefs on others.  There is such division in the world, and a lot of it is because people refuse to accept the views of others.  It’s okay to disagree with others’ views, but it is NOT okay to try to force them to comply with our own, and just because there’s a difference of opinion doesn’t mean the folks who hold the opposite view are wrong or bad or ignorant or stupid or ….  We can and should agree to disagree.

Sometimes, we’re too quick to criticize others who disagree with us.  It’s okay to disagree.  We never really know why people make the choices they make.  We don’t know what drives them or what has shaped them.  I really dislike it when people say something like, “I would never do that,” when they’re criticizing someone’s actions, because the fact is, we never know what we would do in their shoes.  Even if we were faced with the same set of circumstances, we don’t have the same experiences, consequences or motivations that other people have, so there’s no way to accurately judge their choices or them, and that’s something I think we all need to remember.

I asked the Archangels to comment on this, because they’re always talking about the need for unity, and sometimes, that seems like an impossible request to fill.  If we can’t find ways to come together and work together, how are we going to fix things and make a better world?  Their response follows.

Question:  There is so much division in the world, certainly in the US.  How can we begin to work together when there is still so much anger and hostility out there?

Answer:

The anger and hostility you speak of did not come about naturally or accidentally.  They were planted, fostered, nurtured, and accepted by many people who were acting from a place of fear and anger themselves.  Those in power preyed on these emotions and capitalized on them, because division works well for them.  Obviously, there are more people being ruled than there are rulers, and the rulers do not want unity among the masses, because they will lose power and influence if you join and work together for change.  They have pitted you against each other and labeled scapegoats in hopes that you will unite to some extent against those they have targeted, rather than against them, as they can continue to prosper from the status quo.  After all, why would they want the world to change when they are ruling it and have benefited from the problems within it, many of which they created?

Human beings love labels and categories, and they create new ones all the time.  Sometimes, these things are useful in terms of comprehension and organization – we do not suggest that all labels and categories are bad – but many add to and even create misunderstanding, stereotypes, adversity, competition, and confusion.  There are certain long-standing ideas that need to be updated and shift into new, higher order perspectives. 

For example, there is not always one right way to do things.  Often, different things work for different people.  Choice is a powerful motivator and effective moderator.  Different things and methods work for different people, but too many people think their way is the best way, and everyone should incorporate it.  This idea has been applied to everything from religion, education, politics, employment, fashion, lifestyle, architecture, art, laws, relationships, gender roles, marriage, career, societal norms, and virtually everything affecting the majority of people, and it is fundamentally erroneous in nature.

People do not have the same strengths, weaknesses, needs, interests, backgrounds, situations, opinions, ideas, or perspectives.  They never will.  If they did, there would be no growth, improvement, or evolution.  If no one ever questioned the status quo, nothing would ever change.  There would be no new inventions to make life better and easier, there would be no learning new material, or investigating new possibilities.  So, being different and questioning the way things are currently done are good qualities that lead to many great innovations in life.  Everyone likes it when life gets better and easier, but still, there is a tendency to try to control the narrative and force people to do things a certain way, and that is a hindrance to progress.  This, in turn, leads to judgment.

A certain amount of judgment is necessary in terms of deciding what is right and wrong for yourself, what works and doesn’t work in your life, but when you try to apply and project your personal conclusions and beliefs on others and force them to do things your way, you cross a line into territory that is ignorant, selfish, and ineffective.  If people would just apply the desire they have for the freedom to live their lives in the ways they see fit to how they treat others, the world would be so much more peaceful, but too often, people wish to inhibit others’ choices for the sake of their own, and that simply does not work.  Any control they gain over others will be temporary and will cause more destruction than success.

This type of mistake has been made with regard to religion, sexuality, gender roles, cultural practices, and so much more.  Rather than being grateful for the freedom to choose your own lifestyle and affording that same freedom to others, there are too many who want to limit and control others and force them to do things a certain way that someone decided was “right,” while also deciding that all other ways were “wrong.”  This has led to numerous wars and conflicts, hatred and persecution, inequality and unfairness, and until this changes, lasting peace will not be found.

We beseech you to reconsider that what you consider as right and wrong should include the tag “for you” with it.  What is right and wrong for you isn’t necessarily right or wrong for others.  There will never be one hundred percent agreement on anything, and that needs to be alright.  You do not have to agree with someone else’s choices, but you must accept them if you want peace of mind for yourself and peace in the world.  People are too different and always will be to all agree on doing everything – anything – a certain way, and that needs to be okay.

Decide what is right and wrong for you, and leave others to decide things for themselves.  As long as their choices and actions do not harm others, they should follow their own paths and beliefs.  You need to find a way to be at peace with others’ differences, because differences will always exist between people, and that is a good thing.  The most effective planning and problem solving involves ideas from people from different backgrounds who hold different perspectives, so many angles to any given problem can be seen and addressed.  If everyone was alike, solutions would be much more difficult to find, so diversity is actually an asset.  The more diversity, the more potential for learning to take place and insight to be gained.

The smart thing to do is to focus on your own life and allow others to focus on theirs, without any interference from others.  Create a life that suits you, based on your beliefs and views, and hopefully, based on joy, hope, love, and peace.  Acknowledge that everyone should have the opportunity to create their own lives based on what they want and believe, whether or not you agree with them.  You do not have to agree, but you do need to accept that they should have the same rights and freedoms that you covet.

It is often difficult to know what is best for your own life, much less what is best for someone else’s.  You would not want someone else to decide for you, and you must relinquish the desire to make decisions for others.  Most people do not wish to be controlled, therefore they should not try to control others.  Most people want the freedom to create their own vision of what life should be, so they should not interfere in others’ lives or others’ visions.  There should be safety, acceptance, and room for everyone to live as they choose, as long as their choices do not cause harm to others. This is a fundamental, necessary foundation for peace on Earth and a blueprint to move forward.

Final Thoughts

We’re all doing the best that we can to make sense of the world and to create a life that makes us feel safe, valued, and equal.  We want the same basic things, but we have different ideas about how to reach them.  And that’s okay.  That doesn’t mean some of us are necessarily right or wrong, we’re just different in so many ways, and we need to learn to respect and accept those differences.

I remember when I was younger, I thought tolerance was a worthy, important aspect of life, but as I got older, I realized that tolerance isn’t enough.  Acceptance should be the goal.  Accepting others’ differences does not mean that we agree with them or that we need to change our perspectives, views, opinions, or beliefs.  It simply means that we need to offer the same respect for others’ views and beliefs that we want and expect for ourselves.  That shouldn’t be so hard.  We don’t have to categorize everything in terms of right or wrong, except as it pertains to us and how we choose to address things.  Why should it matter what someone else does or how they choose to live if it doesn’t directly affect us or cause harm to others?  And, sorry, being irritated or disagreeing with someone else’s choices or wanting them to disappear does not constitute harm.

If we make an effort to stop judging others and stop trying to limit and control others’ choices, maybe we can learn from each other.  That doesn’t mean we have to change our ways or ideals, but if we understand and even just try to understand where others are coming from and acknowledge that they should have the same freedom to choose their own path as we want, the world might shape up to be a better place, because we would become better people.

The intention for Friday Night Meditation with the Archangels tonight is Renewal.  Maybe if we all focus on renewal, we won’t be so afraid, angry, confused, overwhelmed, etc.  So, if you’d like to join us, just call on the Archangels from wherever you are, whenever you’re available, and focus loving thought, prayers, and energies on Renewal for yourself, for others, and for the world.  We could all use it, right?

I hope your weekend is filled with joy, hope, love, and peace, and you feel renewed as you move forward.  Remember, we’re all in this world, with all its challenges and problems, together, and if we can build bridges rather than burn them, we have a much better chance to have a good life.

Blessing, all.