Radiating Positivity

The other day, I was walking with my brother when I pointed something out and said, "That's pretty." If you are familiar with today's normal sibling teasing, you can probably predict his response: "Your face is pretty." Usually, it doesn't work as well- if I had said instead "That's ugly" or "That's gross", I would have gotten a similar response but with the replaced adjective. It was like fast-acting karma, and it made me come to an important realization. The universe sends back to you what you put out. If you emit positivity, you will receive positivity in return.This concept of a "mirrored" universe, one that reflects our minds, is not new. However, understanding this concept can change our whole perspective on life. Anger is the stick of dynamite too close to the lantern. All it takes is one tiny leap of flame, one small agitation, and we explode. Often, we explode at those we love most. We assume that because they love us, they will be able to "deal" with us. This action can have debilitating consequences. Anger spreads like wildfire, growing more violent the longer it is allowed to continue. It crumbles relationships and destroys happy memories. Making a conscious effort to radiate positivity, to smile instead of yell or compliment instead of criticize, in the end benefits us and those around us. In this day and age, our words and actions hold more weight than ever before. A 140-character rant, a six second burst of rage, or a video taped temper tantrum can all literally be viewed by millions of people within hours. I recently read a wonderful story: a fifth grade teacher gives her students tubes of toothpaste and other such containers. She asks all her students to empty out the containers as best as possible. After they are done, she's asks them to put back the contents into the containers; the students try hard but, obviously, ultimately fail. The teacher tells the students, "Words are like that. We often get caught up in the moment and say cruel things. But once a word comes out of your mouth, you can not put it back in." As Dr. King once famously said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." Be a light to those around you. Radiate positivity.