Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge--even wisdom.  Like art. ~Toni Morrison

     We live in stressful and uncertain times, when much of the world finds itself in a state of upheaval and transformation.  Images and descriptions of hatred, violence, and war dominate the headlines.  In such times, despair and a sense of hopelessness can easily envelop us and cloud our hearts.  How is it even possible to find beauty in a world filled with such evil and suffering?  I believe this, however, is the perfect time to seek and to awaken to the beauty that is all around and within us; this is the time when we need it most. 

     I often wonder why hateful rhetoric, chaos, and drama get the most air time and boost TV ratings more so than stories of human kindness and empathy.   I choose to believe that the world holds more goodness than evil, yet stories of basic human goodness don't seem to sell as well as stories of inhumanity.   This lopsided presentation of reality can skew our worldview.       

     What we see in our world is determined by how we look at our world.  If our focus tends toward the negative, then that is what we will find.  Do we seek out people and information sources that support our worldview or do we look to expand our thinking by entertaining alternative perspectives?  What would happen if we challenge ourselves and seek to to at least consider another perspective different from our own?  We may not agree with all of it, but every point of view holds some degree of validity.  I find it challenging at times to understand another's perspective and sometimes don't do so well, but I believe it is important to keep trying to understand.    

     With a slight shift in focus and an open mind and heart, we can alter the way we see a person or situation.  Curiosity is an invaluable tool in seeking new ways of seeing and understanding.  When we engage our curiosity rather than judgment in an effort to know or learn something,  we can see a person or situation without labels and assumptions.  Without that desire to really know and understand, however, I am not sure it is possible to break out of our own rigid thought paradigms.  Without understanding one another, how can we care and have empathy?  As Charles M. Blow said, "One does not have to operate with great malice in order to do great harm.  The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient."  Without empathy and understanding for our fellow human beings, are we not adding to the world's violence? 

     We have all heard the phrase, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  Perhaps the truth actually goes deeper.  We experience beauty through our five senses, and I wonder if whatever we perceive as beauty is held in the heart.  What if beauty actually lies within the heart of the beholder?  If we hold that thought as a possibility, then in order to experience beauty, we must cultivate an open and receptive heart.  We must engage our curiosity in order to learn and understand our big, beautiful world and all the beautiful creatures within it, both human and other-than-human.      

"Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek."        ~Dalai Lama   

Copyright © 2023  Mary Ann Marszalek.  All Rights Reserved.