In comments at Sas’s latest post, I replied with some Flobot lyrics that I have decided deserve a post of their own:
[Spoken]
We are building up a new world
Do not sit idly by
Do not remain neutral
Do not rely on this broadcast alone
We are only as strong as our signal
There is a war going on for your mind
If you are thinking you are winning
Resistance is victory
Defeat is impossible
Your weapons are already in hand
Reach within you and find the means by which to gain your freedom
Fight with tools
Your fate and that of everyone you know depends on it
Isn’t the idea that if you are thinking then you are winning – beautiful??!! Many of us have been through that phase where we turn intuitive eating into a diet or turn intuitive living into trying to do everything the “right” way when often there is no ultimate ONE right way. This lyric reminds us that if we are TRYING we are succeeding. Period. How hopeful is that??!! How accepting! And there is the “Defeat is impossible.” When a person is hard on themselves by default, it is so easy to turn any imperfect attempt at something into a failure or proof that we will “never get it right.” Screw that. Defeat is impossible. This reminds me that it is okay to be patient with ourselves and that taking the risk and TRYING in the first place – even if that try wasn’t perfect – is a victory in and of itself.
What is this new world and war the lyrics speak of? Who knows. The Flobots talk about all sorts of things that are at war with our minds… not just one thing. In another song, they talk about how we are at war with hatred, prejudice, fanatacism, objectification of women, violence, war, poverty and all sorts of things put way more cooly than I put them that I think most people would agree the world would be better off without. Their songs suggest that thinking and loving and keeping an open-mind are important and can change the world. Spiffy message, in my POV. Their songs make me feel like I’m not alone in trying to live a life of compassion and truth. This blog helps with that as well… either way, I never really feel like I get enough of seeing that from others in my life. It is so easy to feel alone. I suppose that is something I can focus on challenging, eh… cuz I know I’m not alone, even if it feels like it sometimes… especially when I pop open the news and am flooded by stories of the “OMG OBESITY PANIC… FAT PEOPLE KILL BABIES AND FUZZY BUNNIES!!!”
I also love that the Flobots comment on unrealistic ideas of female beauty in their rhymes about “silicon shrapnel” and they also have a song about a woman who lived in the deep South during the time of Jim Crow (I think) who fought against racism. Just beautiful stuff…
In regards to our self-acceptance struggles, if you are thinking and trying you are winning. Defeat is impossible. Be kind to yourselves and be patient, k? We all deserve kindness – especially those of you who think that you don’t. Hold onto your hope.
–AngryGrayRainbows
Angry Gray Rainbows 
LOL!!!
Omg!! I didn’t even SEE the caption on the pic! That p. much sums up my whole life. Anytime I am happy or hopeful or even grateful it gets crapped upon!
UGH!
Such suckage.. I’ve spent my entire life with purely negative thoughts, that I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or Gosh Darn It, ppl like me or any negative thing you can think, it was right there in my brain. I have been REALLY trying real hard to put them out of my head and have maybe 45% less negative thoughts and it DOES make a difference.
I have the love of my life I’ve always wanted even though I’m slightly bored with him, ATM, but that’s kind of natural. I have my 2 babies (boy and girl) I have FURIOUSLY prayed and hoped for even though one has a condition, but, oh well…everything for a reason, right?
Now, if I could just get out of my Mom’s house, get a job, have a car and have access to the cure for Type1 Diabetes, I’ll be straight, I don’t even have to win the lottery if I just had that. UGH! I really should just try to be happy NOW b4 something REALLY messed up happens, huh?
Thanks, as always for the very well-written and thought provoking posts!
*kisses*
In my experience, it took a lot of practice learning to think about things more positively before it didn’t feel like my every attempt to think positively got crapped on – like you said. I think this is why learning positive thinking takes so much courage… it is so hard to get past those first doubts that we hear in our own minds or that we hear from others in our lives who are negative themselves.
45% less negative is freakin’ awesome, woman! That is one awesome accomplishment and I hope you are giving yourself huge pats on the back for that!
Getting a job in this economy is a challenge, so be kind to yourself and be patient. You deserve kindness – especially from you! Besides, how are those kids of yours going to treat themselves well, if mom doesn’t model it, eh. 😀