Welcome, friends! Today, I had a different episode planned, but I felt compelled to pivot after an enlightening experience over the weekend in one of our businesses.
I'm sharing a personal story that beautifully illustrates how we manifest our reality and how our perception shapes our experiences.

Main Story:

My husband and I have been wedding photographers for over 20 years, and we also manage a beautiful wedding venue. Most of our closest friends started as clients and became like family over the years.
This weekend, we faced an unexpected challenge—a crazy storm disrupted a wedding we were hosting. Despite the conditions, our team worked hard to pivot and ensure the couple had a beautiful day.
However, the groom's mother was displeased with everything, criticizing and hurling hate speech at our staff, including racial and body-shaming slurs directed at me.

Personal Reflections:

I'm a proud second-generation Mexican-American and a plus-size woman. The hate speech was shocking and hurtful, especially as it happened while we were working hard to create a wonderful experience.
Despite this, I realized I'm grateful not to live with such negative, racist, body-shaming energy. It's a stark reminder that we can be in the same place, at the same moment, and have vastly different experiences.

The Science of Perception:

Our beliefs and expectations shape our experiences. The brain uses these as a filter, letting through what it deems important without judging whether these are positive or negative.
This incident with the groom's mother shows how a negative filter can completely change one's perception of an event.

Philosophical Insights:

We often talk about the idea that "Same Same, but Different," which reflects how people can stand in the same spot but have different experiences based on their internal filters.
This weekend's events were a powerful example of this concept in action.

Closing Thoughts:

Who do you want to be? Do you want to be the person who brings joy, or the one who is toxic and cruel? You get to choose, and it's okay to change past behaviors.
I've been the critical person before, and I know it doesn't feel good. This experience has reinforced the importance of choosing how we want to show up in the world.

Favorite Quote:

From A Course in Miracles (ACIM): "The strong do not attack because they see no need to do so. Before the idea of attack can enter your mind, you must have perceived yourself as weak."

Sign-off:

Be kind to each other and to yourself. Choose how you want to show up and have a beautiful week!

Mentioned in this episode:

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