A Radical Transformation Worksheet
Applying the Strategy of Radical Forgiveness to World Events
Note: The actual worksheet looks better than how this comes out on the screen in the blog, but I hope you get the essence of it — that it asks us to become open, after we have felt and expressed the pain of it to the full extent we need to, and reacted emotionally most likely, to the possibility that the hand of God is always in there somewhere, and to trust that this is so. This will help the grieving process and bring us to a place of peace. Colin.
1. What is happening in the world now that disturbs me is: The senseless slaughter of 20 children and 6 adults by a crazed guy wielding an assault rifle at an Elementary School in Newtown CT on Friday. He had killed his mother first and then drove to the school with the assault rifle and two other guns, broke his way in and began the killing.
I am feeling a lot of anger about this towards the politicians who haven’t the guts to stand up to the NRA and get some sensible gun laws passed that might at least get these military style weapons off the street and not so readily available to mentally ill people. One guy puts some explosive in the heel of his shoe and everybody who travels, including old grannies still have to take their shoes off and go through a pat down, while young children are dying every day from gun wounds in this country and absolutely nothing is being done – simply because the NRA won’t budge one inch to allow sensible laws that don’t negate the 2nd amendment provision but that might make this country safer. This is the 13th mass shooting in schools since Columbine, but the only legislation passed since Obama became President, in spite of his campaigning for gun control, has been to allow people to carry guns in parks and other public places. How crazy is that? The other thing I am mad about is the amount of violence there is that is glorified in movies and video games. Kill! kill! kill! all the time. The gun is the answer to everything.
2. The feelings I am experiencing about this situation include: X anger X helplessness X hopelessness X despondency Other feelings __Sadness
3. I am noticing my automatic ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to this situation, such as: X lay blame X get something done about it X change something X demonstrate
Write here about the ones you just checked and any others that have come to mind.
I feel helpless but I think we have to do something. I could write to my congressman and demand they take action to pass gun laws that are sensible. My first thought was to hell with privacy laws, let’s identify those who clearly fit the profile of the kind of people who do these mass killings and then restrict them. But then I realize this is morally wrong and overly simplistic. If you identified every person who fit the profile, it would amount to many thousands of people. Besides, making it about mental health is just a ploy by politicians to deflect the conversation away from doing anything about guns, which, absent a massive political and social change in how mental health is treated, is the only practical and immediate thing that can be done about the situation at this time.
4. If I had infinite power and authority over the situation, I would . . . (Fantasize as much as you like and don’t censor your thoughts. If you think people are to blame, include any dark, negative thoughts that might be running through your mind.) I would immediately ban all assault weapons and make it illegal and a punishable (jail-time) offense to own one. I am a hunter myself and own a shotgun gun but I can think of no compelling reason for anyone to own a military style assault weapon that fires off 100 or so rounds in a few seconds. Adam Lanzos put multiple shots into each of the innocent children with that kind of gun. People make the fatuous argument that guns don’t kill; people do. But would these same people suggest leaving phials of Sarin nerve gas around in everyone’s home so any alienated psycho could snatch one up in a temper and throw into classroom? What’s the difference? If I had power, I would ban all video games that have little other content than violence. I think it is worse than pornography and should be treated as such. I would make Facebook and the other social media sites do something about the bullying that takes place on their sites by faceless cowards.
5. In spite of my initial feelings of : (Pull from 2) Anger, helplessness, sadness, hopelessness and despondency, and my initial knee-jerk reactions: (Pull from 3) Wanting to ban assault weapons, forcing video game manufacturers to stop purveying violence to kids, and forcing social media to do something about bullying on their sites,
The actions I can take that might make a practical difference is to . . .(e.g send money; go help; write a letter; volunteer; become a whistle-blower; protest; etc. Note: It may well be nothing.) I can write to my senators and ask them to support Diane Feinstein’s bill she is presenting in the upcoming session.
6. However, what I know I can do, in additon to the above—even if it’s nothing, that will make a big difference energetically, is to read out loud the Radical Forgivenes Invocation plus the proclamations that follow.
- 1. The Radical Forgiveness Invocation
May we all stand firm in the knowledge and comfort that all things are now, have always been, and forever will be in divine order, unfolding according to a divine plan. And may we truly surrender to this truth whether we understand it or not. May we also ask for support in consciousness in feeling our connection with the divine part of us, with everyone and with everything, so we can truly say and feel — we are ONE.
7. Having read the above Radical Forgiveness Invocation, I now realize that what is occurring ‘out-there’ is perfect just the way it is and all part of the divine plan.
I’M OPEN TO THIS POSSIBILITY – BUT SKEPTICAL
8. In being willing to see it this way, I am opening the way for myself and others to awaken to the truth, and by holding the vision of a ‘healed’ world, I am making a huge contribution to facilitating a shift in consciousness where such situations, as in Box 1, have no further need to occur.
I’M WILLING
9. I hereby declare that I am willing to hold this higher vibration and to resist all temptation in the future to react to events with fear and despondency. Whenever I feel myself slipping back into fear I am taking six deep breaths in order to bring myself back to my center and maintain my vibration.
I’M WILLING
10. I realize now, too, that what was happening ‘out there’ was a reflection of something that needs, or needed, to be healed in me. I AGREE. What it may be mirroring for me is – or was: The part of me that is violent and vengeful that I may have denied and repressed.
11. In forgiving the situation in Box 1, I have automatically forgiven myself. I am grateful for the healing. I FEEL THE GRATITUDE AND THE GRACE THAT IS WORKING IN MY LIFE.
12. I am centered now and have released the need to continue
feeling what I was feeling in #2 above and
I choose peace.
Colin C. Tipping 12/15/12
Signed: __________ Date: ________________
Very cool of you to model for us all the pathway of your own forgiveness regarding Newtown! Thank you!