Even though I have raised four boys and studied French, I am a novice when it comes to living in their world. There is no need for any of us to impart our way of approaching life unless it is sought out, and then to do so lovingly, holding the space for others to weigh the information and make their own choice. The law of attraction dictates that we what we experience in our outer world reflects our inner world.  As we allow others to move in accordance with their guidance, we set ourselves free to live unencumbered by the opinions of others.

A fight amongst students broke out the other day. Although I was nowhere near the action, the code blue over the intercom alerted me to something happening not too far away. I moved into the hallway to usher kids into their classrooms thinking that we were running a drill. Nope. It was the real deal. An ambulance and the police were called in to mitigate the damages, and it left many unsettled for the rest of the day. These outbreaks do not occur often in this setting because the teachers here work overtime to build rapport with their students. This creates a sense of safety in our microcosm that allows our students the freedom of expression while holding awareness around certain restraints imposed by school policies. It seems that even this setting is not immune to the charged energy that builds when it has nowhere to go. The choice to stand for or against something is often on the table in these young minds. What if they acknowledged from a larger perspective that standing together and allowing their fellow classmate to think and act differently would be far more powerful as it grants them the ultimate power to be their authentic self rather than exerting dominance in a moment of fear?

Society’s rules and regulations keeps most of us from teetering over the edge when our emotions get the better of us as it did that day with a couple of guys. Today, when reading my daily lesson in Wayne Dyer’s Living the Wisdom of the Tao — Change your Thoughts, Change Your Life, I learned that it is our inherent connection to our source energy keeps us moving in perfect harmony with our environment, not the mandates of society. If we all trusted that place within ourselves to guide us each day, we would all naturally refrain from interfering with the journey of others thereby muting the outside voices that keep the inner directives from being heard and followed. We would naturally resonate with well-being because there would be nothing to resist or rebel against.

The violence experienced that day asked questions of all who felt its force: Is this how I want to live and if not, what needs to change within myself? Is there a way to give my heightened emotional energy an outlet that does not seek to take the power from another? Is my physical prowess a product of my inability to process, sort and make sense of my inner world? Can we build bridges to our differences? These ideas were not verbally asked at any time during the hubbub, but do not think for one moment that the souls guiding the young bystanders were not influencing their young counterparts. NO, they did not need the adults in their lives to highlight these sentiments because the collateral damage on the outside was small. Whatever action was necessary to move their physical bodies out of the fray was taken. They navigated a tough situation and stayed safe. Internal ramifications? Many, if they are wise enough to use those moments of instability to connect to their source and make choices that reflect their hopes for their future as this is only the beginning of their learning to live in an uncertain world.

Living in simplicity means moving out of the realm of dichotomy. The moment we feel the urge to direct the energy according to our beliefs, is the exact moment we create ripples in the lives around us. What if instead, we choose to simply allow and become the observer thereby offering people the space to figure things out for themselves? Isn’t this the true meaning of self-empowerment? Yes, of course we intervene if and when we sense danger and can be of service as the teachers did when the fight broke out. But as we merge with our surroundings, we will discover that advising people to live within our framework is ultimately futile as it keeps others from experiencing the very missteps that are required for their growth.

Maybe you feel like tic-a-loc ing is too challenging when you see people you love headed down a difficult path. Ask yourself these questions: How do they know peace unless they experience unrest or how can they appreciate joy, if they have not felt sorrow? Living in simplicity asks us to believe everything is already in harmony. If we feel inspired to carry a torch for a cause, then we can trust that path and walk it as far as that road takes us. But as we do, let us keep in mind that we are all sure our way of seeing the world is unique and that the tactics we implore to make our world go round are the right ones.  Think back to your youth. Weren’t your parents sure that their way of doing things was the right way for you? And was it?