“Mess with me and I fight back! Put up your Dukes!” No, we can choose a focus on Goodness instead. Let’s read about how such an attitude plays out.
Today’s Story
Our Star Lily calls on the Power of Good for its own sake. L had been immersing herself in spiritual teachings with high morals and integrity from people such as Hazrat Inayat Khan, Emmet Fox and others. And, this woman knew to guide herself by what felt good to her.
This story plays out in a government bureaucracy. The man two levels above her—her section chief—did not favor her. She worked along anyway and enjoyed the program areas for which she was responsible.
Her immediate supervisor went on to another job, and he was replaced with Wanda. Of course, Wanda wanted to succeed and please this section chief and prided herself on being a tough administrator.
Once in place Wanda seemed to go out of her way to create difficulties for Lily. How was Lily to handle herself? Surely it occurred to her to search for another job. She kept her eyes open, and her gut told her to take her time, no rush to flee a bully. After all she did enjoy her subject matter area. L had good working relationships with others outside her agency where they jointly planned initiatives and were getting some good works in place.
Her Strategy
Here was her strategy: Lily imagined a cone of light raying down on her during her work day. This heroine created a field within which she was protected. Her part: mindfully focus on Good as much as she could.
In this approach this heroine did not enter the atmosphere of bitterness, strife, petty grievances, revenge, gossip and other versions of ill will—even when barbs and even unkind assignments were directed at her. This took some discipline because after a while many parties wanted to gossip and complain with her about Wanda. Some colleagues lost interest in her. L kept off those topics and led conversations on constructive topics.
The Crisis
After half a year of this, there was a crisis. One day our dear Lily was informed she was being removed from this unit and would be given a job in another department.
As the details of what happened became available, Lily envisioned the two department heads in a heated disagreement. One picked up a lamp, Lily, and hurled it at the other department head.
This change felt abrupt and jostling to the star and others concerned. In her new department a few months elapsed before players offered Lily a substantial assignment.
Meanwhile L maintained her focus on the good in her new situation. As she arrived, her body showed the major strain she had been under and she experienced some flu episodes, used her plentiful sick leave, and recovered.
New Assignment
Her new leadership team assigned her to develop a policy area when many other had failed. There had not been any development of the program area for many years. She was asked to research it as a possible area for managed care and prepare a paper for the Commissioner.
Long story shortened: In this new rich policy area the protagonist created an environment of interagency cooperation, new resources from foundations, dramatically improved relationships with outside stakeholders and other innovative solutions. After years of effort the team of players, led by Lily, created a significant success.
Resolution of Mean Spirited Start
Meanwhile after about a year, Wanda approached Lily. W had been asked to leave by the Commissioner due to poor management. In her conversation with our star Wanda confirmed that her department head had directed her to make M’s work life difficult. Profusely, W apologized for the way she had treated her, and she now recognized how excellent, smart, professional and competent Lily had always been.
Lily saw what had been created and it was Good! What wonderful outcomes had been manifested from the discipline to keep her mind on high principles and behaving accordingly.
Do you have stories of holding Good in your mind and heart that you would enjoy sharing? Please comment with them! We all relish inspiration!