A lot of us are asking the question, “What should I do with my life?” Perhaps the answer won’t be found in one great thing… but in all the little things. Your everyday choices define who you are, what you stand for and the world you want to see.
We're not asking that you become someone different than who you truly are. We're offering you the tools to reconnect, put your compassion into action and make this world a better place.
Each of our choices in the past -- collectively billions of them every single day -- built the world we live in today. And each of our choices from this moment forward will build the world we live in tomorrow. If you’re not living your values, whose life are you living? Whose world are you building?
A Life Connected aligns your choices with your values. You can build a world reflective of your values when you consume consciously and live your life consistently with your values. It’s that simple.
Live your values. Change the world.
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 15th marked the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have been 79 years old this year.
Dr. King wanted to be remembered not as anyone extraordinary, but as someone who tried to help; someone who in his words “tried to give his life serving others… tried to love somebody… tried to be right on the war question… to clothe those who were naked… to visit those who were in prison… tried to love and serve humanity.”
Leading by serving -- it’s also what's called for by Mohandas Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and countless other leader servants.
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we hope you’ll not only remember the mortal human, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who tried to do what’s right, but also remember what he stood for – the immortal cause of social justice.
Dr. King didn’t invent the fight for social justice, but he powerfully mobilized and organized our shared conscience. He saw the good in us and called us to live up to that potential. He vibrantly pointed out the truth and gave us the encouragement to not only reach for it, but to continue on that righteous path.
In each of us is the potential for greatness, for we all have the ability to serve. So this Martin Luther King Day celebrate by living Nonviolence – put love into action. Help someone in need; speak out for justice; give your power to good and help build a brave new future.
*Reprinted from our January 2007 Newsletter.
Have you been honing your Nonviolence skills? Here are some of the tools you’ll need to live a life of Nonviolence. Find these tools and more in our online Nonviolence Guide.
Truth. Truth is central to Nonviolence. There’s no need for fear or anger when talking with an opponent when your goal is truth. You can learn from your opponents. You may even learn where your opponent is disconnected and help lead them onto the path of Nonviolence.
Power. An oppressor (whether a government, an industry or an individual) has no power if we don’t give it to them. Stop giving it to them. This is a very basic component of Nonviolence -- non-cooperation with the oppressor.
Action! We must act! The future won’t be just and bright simply because we want it badly enough. We must take personal action and responsibility to do the right thing.
Courage. You may have to push yourself beyond the comfort of old habits. This will require strength. You may not always be popular speaking up for truth and acting with compassion. You may face personal attacks and maybe even physical attacks. Nonviolence isn’t always easy, it can be hard work. Stay strong.
Reconciliation. Nonviolence isn’t about winning power over your opponents; it is about attaining a more just society… together. Your fellow humans are not the enemy. The enemy is violence.
Anger Into Hope. You don’t have to strive to eliminate anger. Far from it. It’s only right to be outraged by injustice. Anger provides powerful energy -- use it wisely. Transform your anger into creative Nonviolent ways to be active, focused and more effective. This transformation will help you sustain your energy and your hope.
Love. How can we “love our enemies” when they cause us so much pain? Love in the tradition of Nonviolence doesn’t mean acceptance of an opponent. It doesn’t even mean you have to like your opponent. Love means connecting to the potential of your opponent. It means seeing yourself in your opponent.
We each may remember a time when we were not who we are now. If you sat down and had a conversation with your past self about issues now important to you, you might not even like that past person. If that person was in front of you today, you might even see that person as an opponent.
But what if you hate or dismiss or even hurt your opponent? Will that person have the opportunity to reach their potential? How might you help them? Think how much more powerful it would be to recognize the potential for good in your opponent, to foster their potential and to offer a hand in their reaching that potential. Help them connect. That is love.
Practicing Nonviolence: Expanding Your Circle of Compassion.
Most of us have felt the unconditional love of an animal… that deep bond that seems to go beyond our human connections. We talk to our dogs and cats and sometimes we connect with them more deeply than with anyone else. They love us... and we love them.
Feel that connection again and again by giving your love to every animal -- those we call our pets, wild animals and those who suffer on farms and in factory farms. Make Vegan and cruelty-free choices to align with your true love for animals.
Expand your circle of compassion and the love will come back to you a thousand times.
Visit ALifeConnected.org for ideas on everyday choices that can help build a better world.
Words To Live By: "Helping Others Helps Yourself."
“We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
In this issue …
1. A Life Connected!
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
3. The Nonviolence Guide.
4. Practicing Nonviolence: Expanding Your Circle of Compassion.
5. Words To Live By: "Helping Others Helps Yourself."
About Nonviolence United.
Our vision is a world driven by the innate goodness of people and their values of peace, justice and compassion for other people, for the planet and for the animals. We are all connected.
A Life Connected.
The question isn't whether or not you can make a difference -- you are making a difference. But what kind of difference are you making? What kind of difference do you want to make?
Nonviolence United is building a kind and just world by helping people align their everyday choices to their values. Our focus is teaching individuals how to live A Life Connected.
Build a better life for you and a better world for everyone.
How To Live A Life Connected.
1. Become re-aware of your moral values.
2. Become aware of the power of your everyday choices. How do your choices impact other people, the planet and animals?
3. Align your choices to your values. Live your life consistently and completely.
Thank you!
Nonviolence United exists through the kindness and generosity of caring people like you. Please support our ongoing efforts to promote Nonviolence as a way of life and as a way of social change.
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