The Golden Rule

by Marie T. Russell

Imagine...a world where everything you did to others was immediately reflected upon you. Any time you inflicted pain, whether physical or emotional, unto any other being you would immediately feel the same pain. 

Such was the situation that was brought to earth by an extra-terrestrial in a science fiction story entitled Rule Golden by Damon Knight. The character Aza-Kra, from a planet in the galaxy of Aquarius, explains that all life beings are able to feel each other's pain but that this sense has been squelched and buried deeply within us in childhood. Yet, he is able to activate it. In this book, every time someone acts in a way to cause another pain, they feel the same pain they caused. 

This is indeed the way that the world operates, but many have built a hard scale shield covering their sensitivities in order to "protect" themselves from these feelings. We all have the ability to empathize with others when we allow ourselves to truly feel. But we have lost touch with it. We have become tough, reacting to being hurt by building a wall that says "You won't hurt me", "Nobody can hurt me".

Unfortunately, the wall may keep out pain, but it also keeps out love. It keeps out recognizing the cry for help that is coming from the soul of our brothers and sisters. It stops us from feeling the pain that we inflict on others by our words, our actions, or our lack of caring and compassion.

I recall as a child, being termed "a cry-baby". I would cry watching sad movies, choke up watching a moving episode on Bonanza, and was unable to watch horror movies or any violent ones. My brother and sister would laugh at me for being so sensitive. So I tried to squelch it down. Tried to not be so sensitive, not to let others see me cry, not to show my emotions...

Could it be that we all have this sensitivity, and had it coaxed or ridiculed out of us? As children could we feel the pain of others around us? Could we recognize within ourselves when we did something that was not loving? Or is it something we need to learn, to develop? Maybe it is another layer that we need to remove before reaching the heart of our being... the truly loving entity that we are meant to be.

Are we now willing to open ourselves up completely to feeling our own emotions and those of others around us? Instead of protecting ourselves by barriers of harshness, shyness, aloofness, sarcasm, or even of white light, how about being a beacon of love radiating peace and understanding out into the world? Rather than projecting fear, we can choose to project love and compassion. Seeing the world and its people as needing love, not needing judgment and blame.

Instead of closing one's self from receiving bad vibes, we could blanket the airwaves with the love frequency... If the atmosphere is filled up with the positive vibrations of Love, there is no room for the negative ones of fear and anger. If your Being is radiating Light and Love out into the world, there is no room for darkness to penetrate you. 

Instead of being on the defensive, let's be on the offensive! Let our ammunition be Love, Light, and Compassion rather than defense, judgment, anger, and retribution. 

We are the ones who can make a difference in the world. We are the masters of our own fate. We control what goes in and out of our brains, of our mouths, and of our hearts. 

Let us tune in to the inner voice of Love and follow its directives. Do unto others... 

Let Love shine and heal the world and ourselves. It's all in our hands, and our heart.

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (first published in 1985 as Mighty Natural Magazine). She produced a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1991-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our inner source of joy and creativity.

Marie's favorite book on this topic: 



"The Courage for Peace - Daring to Create Harmony in Ourselves and the World"
by Louise Diamond.
Info/Order book

INNERSELF RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Come visit our InnerSelf Market Books .
Books purchased through InnerSelf.com
help fund InnerSelf Magazine online and keep it free.

Complete list of  Marie T. Russell's articles.