Believing in Benevolence

Everywhere we turn, we are inundated by online posts and reports, newspaper stories, television commentaries, nasty “reality” programs, and radio talk show tirades that emphasize malevolence. However, none of these shows or programs would survive were it not for our own mind’s fascination with the frightful, our negativity bias. In order to cultivate hope, we need to turn away from this steady diet of disaster and doomsday depression and, instead, bolster a belief in an overarching benevolence at work in the universe. I’m not advocating ostrich-like ignorance, but I am saying that too much emphasis on the negative simply invites more negative into our hearts, minds, and world.

Another downside is that our children readily pick up on our attitudes and feelings. If we are anxious and hopeless, it can scare our kids and tarnish some of the wonder and joy of childhood.

In essence, believing in benevolence is a return to trust. I’m talking about setting our intention and tuning our minds and hearts to trusting in God and in ourselves, not blindly trusting the outside world, which often simply sets us up for disappointment and disillusionment. Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu gives us a beautiful affirmation for trust: “Open yourself to heaven and earth, then trust your natural responses. Everything will fall in place.”

Excerpted from How to Stay Upbeat in a Beat Down World by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.