In the Northern Hemisphere, we just experienced the March Equinox—Spring has arrived! Next came Passover in the Jewish faith, and the Christian holiday of Easter. I have been thinking about rejuvenation, fresh starts, rising above our challenges. In Kabbalah, Beha’alotcha means to Rise Above.
In the first three months of 2018, we have seen Rising Up and Rising Above as a major theme for people around the world. People of all ages and nationalities are becoming empowered and using their voices to rise above injustices. Women are rising above the fear of intimidation and ending their silence to speak their truth. Students are rising up in solidarity and moving into action against senseless gun violence. I have personally had the opportunity to rise above the jarring experience of cyberbullying on my weekly MSBTV show. I am always inspired when I hear one of my fans, the Bravehearts, share about rising above their challenges. Whether it be rising above the pain of loneliness and connecting inwardly with the One who is our constant companion, or rising above a health or career challenge, it seems that we are living in a time of unprecedented Rising Above. Daily, hourly, minute by minute, we can choose to rise above limiting thoughts.
In the early days of my career in the music business, I experienced a situation that pushed all my buttons; but ultimately it was an enlightening teaching in rising above. I had gone to great lengths to schedule a recording session for my first album. You can imagine how excited I was—my first album! When the big day arrived, I learned that my friend and fellow musician who was instrumental with the recording process had accepted an offer from another band for a live gig at the same time we had planned to record. All of my planning, scheduling, creative energy was being nullified—I was left in a lurch. I was very upset by this sudden turn of events that was not in my favor—or so I thought.
At the time, I was beginning to study Kabbalah, and I shared this experience with my teacher. The advice I was given was to do something nice for my friend/fellow musician who caused me to lose my time in the recording studio. Initially, I couldn’t believe that I was being asked to do an act of kindness for someone who had been anything but kind to me. However, I followed the advice of my teacher and anonymously sent him a gift, a book I knew he would like.
What happened next was quite interesting and unexpected. By taking this action, it literally gave me freedom—I began to let go of my resentment. In looking back, I was able to discern that I was reacting strongly to the situation, but I realized that I didn’t resent my friend/fellow musician himself. I resented the situation that I was being put in. By giving the gift to him, I was really giving myself the priceless gift of opening my heart more, rising above and letting go. That was a powerful learning experience, and it taught me to not get upset with people in a way that results in me feeling contracted or controlled by outer circumstances. We always have a choice to rise above in any situation. It takes courage to rise above, and when you do, you are always met with a rush of Grace.
I wrote a song “Rise Above” and I invite you to listen here:
Lyrics for “Rise Above” by My Silent Bravery
He’s going out into the cold without a coat
He roams these frozen streets alone, he knows no home
Waking up, day in and out, trying hard to somehow make ends meet
You can take his life but not his pride ‘cause you know he holds it close to him
When your worries wear you down and out,
Rise above
If not for you, for those you love so much,
Rise above
She’s coming in from out in the cold, to a child at home
Her shoes are worn out at their soles, just like her own
Working hard, day in day out, wondering how she’ll get back on her feet
You can take her life but not her pride ‘cause she does it for her family
When it gets you down
It’s time you went ahead
And turned it upside down my friend
Everyday is a second chance
Hold your ground and take a stance again
He’s going out into the cold without a coat
He roams these frozen streets alone, he knows no home
Waking up, day in and out, trying hard to somehow make ends meet
You can take his life but not his pride ‘cause you know he holds it close to him
When your worries wear you down and out,
Rise above
If not for you, for those you love so much,
Rise above
She’s coming in from out in the cold, to a child at home
Her shoes are worn out at their soles, just like her own
Working hard, day in day out, wondering how she’ll get back on her feet
You can take her life but not her pride ‘cause she does it for her family
When it gets you down
It’s time you went ahead
And turned it upside down my friend
Everyday is a second chance
Hold your ground and take a stance again
You Might Also Like These From ‘My Silent Bravery’
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The post When Resentment Hurts You More than the Person You Resent, Here’s Help to Rise Above appeared first on The Good Men Project.