Monday, October 6, 2025

The Gods Show Their Goodness

One thing I have found is that when I let worry take over my mind, that anxiety can cut me off from the Gods in an instant, because it's basically mental miasma, which is just as bad, may be even worse, than physical miasma. Without the mind in good working order, I might be impaired from moving forward, and my mind might even tell me things that are not true. And the worst part is that if the mind worries about something long enough, the mind will start to believe it's true. So what might have started out as an irrational fear, could end up not seeming so later on down the road. Excessive worry can also cause a pessimistic outlook on life, and this is bad because optimistic people generally live longer. Science has shown all of this.

So how do I develop and keep an optimistic outlook on life? How can I condition my brain to be positive, happy and helpful, and thus, more receptive to the Gods? Religious and philosophical leaders from ancient times to modern, stress the importance of the idea that the Gods are good and always do good. Realizing that eternal and unending goodness that comes from heaven.

I won't lie. I beat myself up a lot for my past mistakes. I am normally very hard on myself for even small things. Although I am trying harder every day to turn that course, to treat myself better and with more understanding and forgiveness, to love myself essentially. And the problem is that you can't do that by simply saying you're going to. One thing it takes is to realize that you are deserving of love, both from the Gods and yourself. They chose me in place of millions and millions of others who could have been born instead. They saw great potential in me. It's never going to produce a good life to be self-hating.

Not everyone may agree with my perspective that the Gods are all love, and that's fine. But to my mind, how else could they be our bliss? The physical and spiritual feeling and uplift that fills us when we pray and offer to the Gods, has to be based on some form of universal love, friendship, compassion, and delight that comes from above. Even after we have committed offenses and move to atone through a Propitiatory Sacrifice, the Gods are still willing to hear those prayers and accept those atonements. What could do that but love, compassion and understanding? At the very least, it's a willingness to welcome us back. Opening my mind up to all of those universally positive things, enables me to move forward, to live in peace, and be kind to my fellowman. 

So when the mind tries to descend into that deep dark hole, as it is called, I remind myself of the truth. The Gods are good and they always do good. I am worthy of love. I am not my past. This is a new day. I have wonderful potential. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,
I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.