Fifty five ~ The Verdict

We've heard the charge, we've seen the evidence and we've looked at it from their point of view to find reason.  Now what?  What should we do with all of this information?

If we have found the defendant to be mentally ill, we may just decide to avoid them.  If this person happens to be a family member, then this probably isn't the answer.  As a family member, it may be our place to step in and put the hurt feelings aside and assist the defendant.  Maybe we need to assist them in getting professional help.

Judging a case takes a lot of wisdom.  And our verdict must be fair.  When judging a case it is necessary to keep our feelings of revenge or hatred out of the way.  We need to try and keep our problem solving hat on and come up with a decision that is good for everyone.  Each verdict must be specific to the evidence involved, not our personal feelings.

When we want to live a life of joy and contentment we pursue seeing the good, and simultaneously we guard ourselves and others from elements that could damage us.  This is an important principle, because purely concentrating on the good things without guarding doesn't work.  It is like growing a vegetable garden and not putting a fence around it and letting the sheep, cows, goats, etc to have free range of our garden.  It is inevitable that the garden will be destroyed and all our hard work wasted.  Likewise if we put a lot of effort into cultivating a positive attitude, a good eye and an open and loving heart, we need to protect ourselves from people and things that will destroy this.

Take a look at your life and reflect... Are there people I associate with that take me away or drag me down from being positive, happy and giving?

Identify anyone that drags you down.  Make sure its because the other person is a negative influence in your life, not because of your own inner challenges of being able to see the good in others.  Then assess whether this is a relationship that has potential.   Take a good look at it.  If the relationship is the type that has no potential, then make an objective, informed and fair decision on how to limit/remove this negative drain on your life. 

Look objectively and honestly at the people in your life.  You need to do this in order to decide which relationships to bring closer because they enhance your life and which relationships to draw away from because they will cause you pain and suffering if you continue to associate with them.

Warren, S. 2010, 7 Ancient Keys To Happiness, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform