Author: Andrew Arthur Dawson

A teacher of meditation, a motivational speaker, a reader of numerology, and a writer by trade, Andrew Arthur Dawson is a spiritual man devoted to serving his Higher Power and bringing a lot more light and love into this world. This blog, www.thetwelfthstep.com is just one of those ways...

Just One Thought On The 2016 Summer Olympics In Rio

It seems like there are three major topics lately in the news that continue to keep people talking. They are gun violence, Donald Trump, and the upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil. I feel like I’ve written enough about the first two topics in recent weeks, but I have yet to comment on the third.

Beginning August 5th, Rio, Brazil will be hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics and many are concerned about the infrastructure there. There’s an economic crisis going on with massive inflation and unemployment. There’s a large amount of corruption in the political leadership with more than half in power facing serious charges against them. There are vast money problems going on that’s causing important cuts to be made with things like the amount of transportation available to athletes, seating for spectators, and even comforts such as air conditioning and television. Then of course there’s the Zika virus that’s continued to ravage the area, as well as the virus-soaked sewage problem in most of the waterways.

People are really angry because of all these issues in Rio, blaming this and that, talking about how the Olympics should just be cancelled. Unfortunately, all this unrest and all of this resentment is doing nothing more than creating more of the same.

I really have only one thought when it comes to all this 2016 Summer Olympic turmoil. PRAY. Ok, well maybe two. PRAY OFTEN.

The fact is, complaining, worrying, and stressing out about the mess that’s going on in Rio isn’t doing anyone any good. A far better action is to pray and send love, light, and positive energy over there. Pray for all the athletes and their families, the future spectators, and the local residents there as well to be safe and blessed by Higher Guidance. Instead of spending energy saying how bad the situation is over there, use it to pray. While you may not think it will do any good, think again, because it will.

I know that most of us don’t truly understand how prayer works and why they seem to be answered sometimes, while other times they don’t seem to be doing anything at all. I remain firm on my belief that they are always doing something good, it’s just beyond our understanding. With that being said, I encourage everyone to say a simple prayer every day from now until the end of the actual 2016 Summer Olympics. Because I ultimately believe that it will help, far more so than focusing on the current state of affairs over there. None of us have any idea of how great of an impact praying will make, but I’m sure you can agree, that if we don’t pray at all, the only thing that will result in that is more pointing of fingers at who’s at fault.

“God, I ask you to bless all of Rio. May you bless everyone there who’s working hard to prepare for the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics. May you bless all the athletes and their families who are planning on attending the games. And you may bless all the local residents and people who will be visiting as spectators as well. Please keep all of them safe and healthy and guide everyone who will be there for the Olympics to have a successful and blessed event. Amen.” 

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

Fully Letting Go Of Another’s Past Behaviors

I used to struggle letting go of the past, especially when it came to the actions of others that negatively affected me. And even when I eventually forgave them and saw they were working on themselves to become healthier individuals, I’d often still look at them with judgmental thoughts. In other words, they could do nine out of ten things right in my eyes, but as soon as they made one mistake resembling them of old, I’d make an assumption they hadn’t changed one bit.

I’ve worked hard to change this behavior though. Nowadays, I forgive far more easily because I find it’s only poison to my soul when I don’t. And even when I see someone I’ve forgiven do similar actions that had hurt me in the past, I love them anyway, and will look for the good they are doing instead of pointing out their flaws. I do occasionally struggle with this though, notably when it comes to my partner, but there too, I’m making strides to see and focus on his good rather than on comparing him to the things he’s done in the past.

Unfortunately, I’m now on the receiving end of this old behavior. What I mean by that is how there are a number of individuals in my life these days who just can’t seem to let go of the old me who was self-seeking, controlling, and manipulating more than not. So rather than focus on all the good qualities I have these days and see the progress I’ve made spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, they continue to look for any moment where my actions or words remind them of my negative past.

I’ve wanted to be upset about this, but how can I be given I once was doing the same behavior all the time. That’s why I love this quote from Matthew 7:3 that says “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

Nevertheless, it’s difficult to be on the receiving end of a behavior I’ve worked so hard to remove within myself. But getting a taste of my own medicine has proven to be beneficial to me on one level.

I really never had any idea what it felt like with those I judged, with who I never fully let go of their past. But now I do. I only hope that one day all those who are doing it with me now, may let go of their fears and negative judgments of me and see that I truly am doing everything I can these days to be a more selfless, caring, and unconditionally loving person.

Until then, I plan on continuing to love each of them anyway, even in the face of them struggling to let go of my past. And I pray that one day they will see me as my Higher Power does with me now, which is someone who is doing everything he can to love as He does.

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson