Summary

Selma, the author, asserts that the universe is inherently friendly, drawing on personal beliefs and the positive outlooks of influential figures to advocate for happiness and peace as guiding principles in life.

Abstract

In a reflective article, Selma explores the pivotal question posed by Einstein: "Is this a Friendly Universe?" She acknowledges the prevalent suffering and injustices in the world but chooses to focus on the positive aspects of life, inspired by the teachings of notable individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and others. Selma emphasizes the importance of aligning one's beliefs with feelings of happiness and peace, suggesting that personal happiness can contribute positively to the universe. She encourages readers to cultivate beliefs that lead to joy and to reject those that induce negativity.

Opinions

Some people perceive the universe as hostile, believing it conspires against them, while others, including the author, view it as friendly and benevolent.
Selma admits that while there are terrible things happening in the world, she personally chooses to see the universe as friendly, basing her belief on how it makes her feel.
The author references an article by Jeff Barton, which discusses the concept of failure being a matter of perspective and the importance of experimenting with life like a scientist.
Selma is influenced by the positive mindsets of enlightened individuals and organizations like NASA, who use failure constructively, and she aligns her thinking with theirs.
The article suggests that by focusing on happiness and peace, individuals can influence the universe positively and help alleviate the suffering of others.
Selma believes that one's internal state of happiness can have a ripple effect, reaching those in need and contributing to a more friendly universe.
The author encourages readers to evaluate their criteria for beliefs and to adopt those that bring happiness, suggesting that a change in beliefs can lead to a change in one's experience of the world.

Is this a Friendly Universe?

What’re your criteria for choosing how you respond?

The Most Important Question

It was Mr. Einstein who declared “Is this a Friendly Universe” to be the most important question any of us could ask ourselves.

Are you asking, or have you ever asked yourself that question? THE Most Important Question!

I have. In a minute I’ll tell you my criteria for arriving at my answer. And while I will ask you not to expect fireworks to go off with my reply, still I ask that you come down to my level and consider the simplicity of how I do it.

Is this a friendly universe?

Some harbor beliefs that the universe

is out to get them;
conspiring to bring them down;
out to make them look and feel small.
“Definitely nothing benevolent about this universe,” they say.

Certainly, there are horrible and devastating things happening in our world today. There’s injustice, famine, death, suffering, the opioid epidemic and a whole lot more. When we consider these occurrences it’s easy to reply with an emphatic NO, to the question above.

These things are real,
No amount of faking will make them seem less so
It’s just not fair

So, NO, this is not a friendly universe, some conclude.

Is your thinking aligned with that kind of thinking? That is your choice.

But tell me, how does seeing the situation in such a way make you feel? Lost? Disillusioned? Fearful? How…? And your health, how does seeing reality for what it is affect your health and state of mind?

What valid argument could people who answer YES to the question have? One would need to be blind to not see all these horrendous things wrong with the world.

Call me Naive

I answer a resounding yes, to that question.

Yes, this is a friendly universe.

I will sound wimpy to you for saying what I’m about to say, but I do not hope to turn this probing into a philosophical discussion, nor into a religious one.

I’m not smart enough nor enlightened enough to take you on in that way. I’m much too ordinary for more but I’d like to tell you why I embrace this idea.

A week ago, I read an amazing article on Medium written by Jeff Barton. And that article was the impetus for this one.

In the article, Jeff spoke about failure — about how failure is only failure if you choose to see it that way.

And I think I speak for most when I say that failure is real. Most of us have stumbled and failed and those of us who are still standing are the ones who learned to turn toward it, experiment with it and not away from it.

Life is one Big Experiment and you are the Chief Scientist.

Read the article here:

Life Is One Big Experiment

And You Are the Chief Scientist

medium.com

Jeff subtly points out that Nasa uses failure in positive ways and, immediately I thought, I want to align my ideas with those of Nasa because to me, it feels good to think of failure in positive ways.

I’m naive that way and choose certain mindsets based on the way they make me feel.

It’s all about feelings

So, when I think of the way how answering NO to the above question makes me feel… I turn and go the other way.

When I think of these people: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Marianne Williamson, Pam Grout, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Oprah, Eckhart Tolle, the sages and saints, enlightened people of the past and the present who share the belief that the universe is a friendly place, I like the way how what they say makes me feel.

I want to align my thinking with theirs.

When I see or hear about these people in videos or books, I cannot help but notice the radiance that emanates from them. These people look ‘at peace’, happy. I see in them a relaxed and trusting attitude about life. And Selma wants some of the happiness they possess. Simple but true.

I’ve read enough about these people to know that they use happiness as a guiding principle in their experiments on the universe from which all life comes. That’s the feeling I’m after.

Happiness is the feeling I’m after

I’m a simple girl and I truly believe the universe is a friendly place. What do you believe?

Yes, I see the injustices, the suffering, and all that pain is also my pain. These things should not be happening.

But I believe that by calling forth the peace and happiness that resides in me, I’m helping to align the frequency of the universe in a positive way.

I also believe that my happiness will reach the people who need it the most.

And this is why I choose to feel the way I feel.

This IS a Friendly Universe — Selma

If we want to sprinkle the world with friendliness and happiness and love, first we have to cultivate those feelings in our hearts — Selma

What’re your criteria for choosing what you believe? Do those beliefs bring you happiness? If they don’t please cultivate new ones.

THANK YOU FOR READING. I Wish You Miracles, Selma.