Roots of a Radical Lifestyle

When developing a lifestyle of activism, it is important that at first we establish the absolute principles of which we hold to be true in our consciences and allow those principles or values, to be the roots of our lives. In "forming the root" of our souls, we become what is called a "Radical". In our current time, this word has a negative connotation but in actuality that is a terrible misrepresentation of the origin of the word. The word comes from a Latin word "Radix" which means "root" and later Latin used "Radicalis" which meant "forming the root". So, in this context it is very appropriate to call ourselves a "radical". Get comfortable with this term because I will be using it throughout this post. 

So what are some important principles that any Activist and any Human Being should have at the core of their consciences? Here is my list: 

1. Nonviolence: Making a conscious decision everyday to actively engage in respect for the natural order of life and not doing, saying, or thinking anything that would disrupt that order and in turn cause violence to occur. i.e. slapping someone for being rude, returning insult for insult, sarcasm, thinking judgements of others before taking time to get to know them, etc. 
2. Non-Cooperation: Making a conscious decision everyday to actively disengage from participation with people, places, or things that do not foster nonviolence, peace, the inherent dignity of humanity and all of creation. 
3. Compassion: The dynamic virtue that allows us to "suffer with" (compassio-Latin) those who are victims of greed, hate,  and violence of all kinds. To be compassionated means we choose daily to experience the same struggles as everyone else, which in turn, provides us with a broader understanding of strife and the plight of our fellow brothers and sisters. 
4. Empathy: Giving yourself permission to express a sense of understanding in regards to the feelings someone else has and share those feelings with them, because you have at one time experienced the same feelings. You have gone through the same struggles as the other person so you have the ability to "relate". You are "relevant" to their circumstances. 
5. Faithfulness: Mother Teresa, a tremendous witness to the power of Peace and Love, always told people "We are called to be faithful, not successful". I think this is a fabulous point to make because often times when it comes to activism we subconsciously have this idea that if we demonstrate enough, if we pray enough, if we educate enough, we will have world peace in a matter of months or years. But in actuality, having a mentality of success is harmful to the spirit of an activist because, it gives us a false notion of control over the field of interest we are advocating for. It is better for us to continue to walk down the narrow road to peace and receive the blessings you are blessed with along the way, then to keep wanting to get to the end. Be consistent. Be fervent. 

These are what I believe to be some of the virtues that are at the core of every living being. To be a radical, these are core principles that must be the roots of your harvest of peace. Obviously, there is probably more but I hold these to be some of the most essential. Let us this week work to cultivate these virtues in all aspects of our lives and begin to plant seeds of social change in the world. 

In the last post I discussed taking time to "make a little space" so we can "make a better place". I gave you 5 suggestions on how to accomplish making a little space, in your daily lives. Please see the previous post if you have not read it yet and share it with others. The core of the post was about the first principle listed above, "nonviolence". This coming post will be about the second principle, which is, "non-cooperation".

SO, let us together BE RADICALS for Peace. Let us get back to the roots of what it means to be human and to be conscious of our affect on the world.

Peace and love sent your way!
-Jerry

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Also, if you have any personal testimonies of how these principles have made your lifestyle more radical or how they have brought more Peace to your life, please email me at jmpianoking100@gmail.com

God bless!