Okay, first things first. The planet doesn’t really need saving. It’s us…and the fellow earthlings our destructive habits impact, that need to be “saved.” But in all our efforts to do that, have we lost sight of just how important kindness is?

It’s hard not to be passionate. It’s part of being human. For some of us, that means fighting for democracy, the environment, animals, food sovereignty, or women’s issues. For others, that means fighting for profit, control, power. These desired outcomes are about as opposite as it can get. We find ourselves taking sides. Choosing to see others who don’t share our worldview as the enemy—wrong, misinformed, or worse, “unevolved.” But isn’t the truth that we’re all right? That those seemingly impossible and selfish worldviews are just as evolved as ours, even if they are the complete opposite?

Author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle notes that whatever we fight, we strengthen. What we resist, persists. But how can we not fight against injustice? What does sitting idly by do for the soul? What would I really say to someone like Donald Trump if we were trapped in an elevator together (you know, after I kicked the shit out of him)? We’re all lovers and fighters; it’s not an either/or situation.

The more we look for them, the easier it is to see the battles all around us waiting to be fought. The digital age has us constantly negotiating causes, calls to action, and tragedies that fuel us with contempt while we’re scrolling through Facebook just trying to kill time. And even though there’s only a “like” option, most of us “dislike” much of what we’re seeing.

It’s a world out of balance.

To one extreme, we can try to avoid conflict. We can barricade ourselves with manufactured bliss, and do our best to dodge adversity. But that’s not always rational or doable. Conflict exists. But we don’t have to charge toward it, either.

What if we could accomplish more by simply surrendering to what it is we’re drawn to and still “fighting” for those causes, but while also doing it with kindness? After all, isn’t it our less-than-kind behaviors that have led us into wars, despots, dishonesty, and greed that got us into this planetary mess in the first place? It feels like something needs to change in how we negotiate adversity.

Still, no matter what the issues, or how we got here, Tolle says, “Always say “yes” to the present moment. “What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is?” That doesn’t mean we can’t change (or even “save”) the world, but there’s something in recognizing that in the big picture, it kind of doesn’t really matter. Unless what’s on the other side of life is that big old Judgement Day in the sky.

And what’s more, we can achieve more peace through kindness. Being unkind turns any issue into more than just the issue. Someone hits your car, for example. That’s a problem you’ll need to deal with. But if you come at the other driver screaming and shaking fists, you now have yet another issue to deal with spurred by your lack of kindness. They’re likely to respond with defensiveness or withdraw. We know that accidents happen. Sometimes that’s because someone is being totally negligent and completely at fault. They surely need to be held accountable, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be kind in that process.

Eleanor Roosevelt noted that what other people think of you is really none of your business. We’re all going to think what we want, whether it’s accurate or not. But being kind isn’t about doing it for the other person. It may not even be perceived as intended anyway. Being kind is our gift to ourselves. It allows us the opportunity to avoid conflict. It’s a surrender that seems vital in this modern world where there’s so much work to be done.

As Tolle says, “Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.”

Find Jill on Twitter and Instagram

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You’ve read “The Secret” and “A New Earth.” Taken up meditation. Created a vision board. Thought and projected on your desires for a good long time now. Still nothing? There may be one key element missing in most information you read regarding the Law of Attraction.

All of that manifesting info and power and still not seeing the results you wished for?

Rhonda Byrne’s book, “The Secret“, was a huge catalyst to bringing the Law of Attraction mainstream. Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” hasn’t hurt either. But there may be one important element that is being over looked where manifesting is concerned. We’ve been told to think about our desires as if they are already a reality, and this is what will manifest our dreams. But is thought the best and most effective way to go about this?

First let’s take a look at what the Law of Attraction really is. You’ve heard the saying “what you think about grows.” And there is no doubt this is true. Whether good or bad, what you spend mental time on has a tendency to show up in your life.

Doubt it? Maybe you should try the car trick. Think of a car you really would like to see yourself driving. Maybe it’s a Subaru. Maybe it’s an Audi. Either way, picture the car. The shape, color, how it would feel to be behind the wheel.

Now note how often you see this type of car over the course of the next week. If it seems like there are white Subura Foresters around every corner, that’s the Law of Attraction at work.

This can, of course, go the other way too. How often have you heard of an acquaintance (or acquaintance of an acquaintance) being sick. And before you know it, you have symptoms of the illness yourself. You may not truly be sick, but you sure feel that way. Our thoughts create our reality.

We can take that one step further. As in, our feelings create our reality. If you’ve read “The Secret” you know that Byrne says there must be feeling behind our thoughts in order for our desires to manifest.

The Law of Attraction works by using the energy of the universe to attract what you desire. So wouldn’t it only make sense that we use our energy, rather than just thoughts, to do this?

I recently came upon a cool site by Belinda Davidson, Modern Mystic. Davidson suggests that it is not our thoughts that manifest our dreams, but our energy. Keeping our energy system clear and healthy automatically draws our desires to us.

Our energy system is made up of the chakras. The chakras can become imbalanced, basically blocking good stuff from coming your way in the form of health, happiness, and whatever else you may want in your life.

So, by all means, let’s keep those little energy wheels turning properly. Chakra cleanse meditations are a great way to do this. Davidson offers a free chakra clearing course with meditation. Read up on more ways to balance the individual chakras.

And yes, our thoughts affect our energy flow. So it is important to try and stay positive. Think of energy maintenance as the basis of a healthy lifestyle, positive thoughts as the extra health boosters. Our thoughts may influence our energy, but having clear and balanced energy centers in the first place is the best way to start.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of happy confident woman via Shutterstock

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Are you in a constant state of stress, possibly without even realizing it? Could be due to that endless chatter in your head. Time to tame the monkey mind.

Hey, you are not alone. Most of us have some repetitive thoughts going on in our minds most of the time. It’s a state often called “monkey mind.”

Some say this metaphor came from Buddha, others claim it is of Chinese or Hindu origin. Wherever it began, the term monkey mind does a good job of summing up incessant and racing thoughts.

This mental chatter could be causing worry, anxiety, distraction, lack of creativity, and other negative emotions. There are ways to tame these beasts and gain control over your mind.

6 Monkey Mind Taming Tips

1 Strike a Pose: You probably aren’t surprised to see yoga on this list. Why does practicing yoga have a calming effect on the mind? The intentional breathing done while practicing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers blood pressure and  heart rate, and slows breathing. Calmer body, calmer mind. Try these yoga poses for instant calm.

2 Get Om: Another usual suspect on getting centered. Sick of the meditation revolution yet? As we’ve said here before, there are many ways to meditate beyond the crossed-legged om-chanting posture. Try guided meditation or get yourself to a meditation studio. And I love this list of fun ways to meditate, especially number two.

3 Do What You are Doing: Sounds easy enough, right? But how ‘in the moment’ are we when folding clothes, doing dishes, making dinner, and other daily tasks? Chances are, not very. These mundane duties give us a chance to plan, contemplate, and make decisions–and fret, worry, and obsess. Eckhart Tolle, master of living in the present moment, maintains that being in the here and now is the route to peace and happiness. It may take some getting used to, but give mindful tasking a try. Need some inspo? Eckhart shares with Oprah two ways to get present.

4 Talk With the Monkeys: Okay. I admit this one sounds a little crazy. But this is an important exercise in confronting your fears. Trying to avoid problem thoughts often makes the issue seem much worse than it is. Ask yourself what it is that’s truly bothering you or that you can’t quit thinking about. What’s the worst that will happen if this thought happens in real life? Can you handle that? Most likely, you can. It’s amazing how addressing fear can abate worrisome thoughts.

5 Step Away From the Device: Yes, the cell phone, tablet, or laptop. What’s the big deal? Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s New Tech City podcast, found that less screen time can free up mind space. Through her seven day Bored and Brilliant campaign, Zomorodi put participants through daily tasks aimed at awakening awareness. The biggest take away from the campaign: people felt less distracted and more inspired when they stopped multitasking and allowed their minds less distraction.

6 Gaze in the Right Direction: You may be surprised to learn that what we look at and for how long affects how focused or distracted we are. Duke University researchers studied monkeys’ eyes (I know, again with the monkeys) for links to the brain’s focus. The study distracted monkeys from a task by showing them pictures of other monkeys. By monitoring brain activity, scientist found that a set of neurons were only active when the monkeys were trying to do two things at once, complete a task while being distracted by pictures. The neuron sets were inactive when the monkeys were doing just one task at a time. The theory goes that when humans are trying to pay attention to two different things, it triggers a “conflict” circuit in a region of the brain called the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). The dACC is part of a larger brain structure that controls rational thought and emotions. Moral of the story, try concentrating your focus on one thing at a time for better productivity and peace of mind.

Quieting the noisy mind is something we all deal with. Do you have other tips to taming your inner monkeys?

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Image of monkeys via Shutterstock

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Jim Carrey can’t be contained. He’s the container, of course. Actor, comedian, author and honorary founder of GATE (the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment) pretty much blew everyone away with his recent commencement address for the Maharishi University of Management’s 2014 graduating class.

Showing his not-so-subtle spiritual side, Carrey demonstrated that critics be damned (“Dumb and Dumber To”), he is exactly where he wants to be, which is as his friend and teacher Eckhart Tolle would say: here now. It’s a whole trip we don’t have time to get into right now, but let’s just say the video is particularly moving no matter what your religious or spiritual preferences may be. He certainly plants a seed. “Will that seed have a chance to take root? Or will I be sued by Monsanto, and forced to use their seed,” he quipped. I suppose if we’re where Carrey suggests, that doesn’t really matter anymore anyway.

Take a look, and if you are at all invested in any form of media or entertainment, do also swing on over to the GATE website for some inspiration.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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