Angry at Corporate America from “Loving What Is”by Byron Katie – chapter The Work on Work and Money
A question I often hear is “If l do The Work and I’m no longer fearful for the planet’s welfare, why would I get involved in social action? If I felt completely peaceful, why would I bother taking action at all?” My answer is “Because that’s what love does.” The fear of not being fearful is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people beginning inquiry. They believe that without stress, without anger they wouldn’t act, they would just sit around with drool running down their chins. Whoever left the impression that peace isn’t active has never known peace the way I know it. I am entirely motivated without anger. The truth sets us free and freedom acts. When I take people to the desert, they may see a tin can lying under a cactus and say, “How can anyone do that to this beautiful desert?” But that tin can is the desert. It’s what is. How can it be out of place? The cactus the snakes, the scorpions, the sand, the can, and us—all of it. That is nature, not a mental image of the desert without the can. Without any stress or judgment, l notice that l just pick up the can, Or l could tell the story that people are polluting the earth, and that there is no end to human selfishness and greed, and then pick up the can with all the sadness and anger I’d be feeling. Either way, when it’s time for the can to move I notice that I’m there as nature, picking up the can. Who would I be without my uninvestigated story)’? Just happily picking up the can. And if some-one notices me picking it up, and my action seems right, they may pick up another can. We’re already acting as a community, beyond anything that we’ve planned. Without a story, without an enemy, action is spontaneous, clear, and infinitely kind.
——————-
Margaret:: I want corporations to start taking responsibility, to start respecting life, care for the future, be in support of the environment and third-world countries, stop abusing animals, and stop thinking about money only.
Katie: So, “They think about money only” — can you really know that that*s true? I’m not saying that it’s not. I’m not here with a philosophy or the right or wrong of it. Just inquiry.
Margaret:: Well, it seems like that.
Katie: How do you react when you believe the thought that they only care about money?
Margaret: I get angry and frustrated, and I don’t want to sup-port the m as people.
Katie-: Yes, even though you do support them. You use the products they put out, their electricity, their oil and gas. You feel guilty as you do it, yet you continue, and maybe, just like them you find a way to justify your action. So give me a stress-free reason to believe the thought that these people only care about money.
Margaret: Well, that way I make a difference. I at least do what l can do.
Katie: I hear from you that when you believe that thought, you experience anger and frustration. And how do you live when you think that you’ve made a difference, and they’re still cut-ting down trees? You think that only through further stress can the planet be saved. Now give me a stress-free reason to believe that thought,
Margaret: There is no stress-free reason.
Katie: There is no stress-free reason? So, who would you be without this thought, this philosophy, that they only care about money.
Margaret:: Peaceful. Happy. Maybe clearer.
Katie: Yes, And maybe more effective, energized, less confused, and in a position to make a real difference in ways that you haven’t even imagined yet. In my experiences clarity moves much more efficiently than violence and stress. It doesn’t make enemies along the way, and therefore it can sit comfortably at a peace (able, face-to-face with anyone there.
Margaret: Thai’s true.
Katie: When I come al a corporate official, or a logger, pointing my finger and in any way blaming him or his company for destroying the atmosphere, however valid my Information is, do you think that he’ll be open to what I’m saying? I’m scaring him with my attitude, and the facts can get lost, because I’m coming from fear myself. All he’ll hear is that l think he’s doing it wrong, ifs his fault, and he’ll go into denial and resistance. But if I speak to him without any stress, in total confidence that everything is just the way it should be right now, I’m able to express myself kindly and with no fear about the future. “Here are the facts. How can the two of us make it better? Do you see another way? How do you suggest that we proceed?” And when he speaks, I’m able to listen.
Margaret: I understand.
Katie: Sweetheart, let’s turn it around and see what you would experience with that. Turn around statement number 2. Say it again with you in all of it. “I …”
Margaret: I want to start taking responsibility, l want to start respecting life and care for the future. I want to be in support of the environment and third-world countries, and I want to stop abusing animals. I want to stop thinking about money only.
Katie: Does that ring a bell?
Margaret: Well, I really feel I’m … Thai’s what I’m working on all the time.
Katie: And wouldn’t you rather work on it without the frustration, stress, and anger? But when you come at us — the corporate people—self-righteously, all we see is the enemy coming. When you come at us clearly, we can hear from you what we already know in our hearts about the welfare of the planet, and we can listen lo you and your solutions without feeling threatened and without having to be defensive. We can sec you as a loving and attractive person, as someone easy to work with someone lo be trusted. That’s my experience.
Margaret: Well, that’s true,
Katie: War teaches only war. You clean up your mental environment^ and we’ll clean up our physical one much more quickly. That’s how it works. Let’s look at the next statement on your Worksheet,
Margaret: Corporations should be caring and give back to the planet, use their money to support environmental groups, build habitats, support freedom of broadcasting, should wake up and start thinking about tomorrow.
Katie: So, “They don’t care”—can you really know that that’s true.
Margaret: Well, again, it seems like it, doesn’t it? Katie: Not to me, and I understand where you’re coming from, How do you react when you think the thought “They don’t care”?
Margaret: Sometimes I get really depressed. But it’s good, because I also get very angry; I get very motivated and work very hard at making a difference.
Katie: How does the anger feel inside you?
Margaret: It hurts. I can’t stand what the’re doing to our planet.
Katie: Doesn’t all that anger feel violent inside you?
Margaret: Yes,
Katie: Anger is violent. Feel it.
Margaret: But it motivates me to act. So it’s good to have some stress. We need it to get things moving,
Katie: So what I hear from you is that violence works, violence is the way to a peaceful solution. That doesn’t make sense to me. We humans have been trying lo prove this point for eons, What you’re saying is that violence is healthy for you, but that corporations shouldn’t use it against the planet, “Excuse me, corporations, you should stop your violence and treat the planet peacefully, and by the way, violence really works for me in my life” So, “You need violence to motivate you”1—is that true?
Margaret: [after a pause]: No. Those bouts of anger leave me depressed and wiped out. Are you saying that without the violence, l would be just as motivated?
Katie: No, sweetheart, that was you. What I would say is that I don’t need anger or violence to accomplish things or to motivate myself in any way. If I were to feel anger, I would do The Work on the thought behind it. This Leaves love as the motivator. Is there anything more powerful than love? Think of your own experience. And what could be more motivating? I hear from you that fear and anger are depressing. Think of yourself when you love someone —how motivated you become. Who would you be without the thought that you need violence as a motivator?
Margaret: I don’t know. That feels very strange.
Katie: So, sweetheart, let’s turn it around, “I…”
Margaret: I don’t care. Yes, that’s true. I haven’t cared about those people. And I should be caring and give back to the planet, I should use my money to support environmental groups, build habitats, support freedom of broadcasting. I should wake up and start thinking about tomorrow.
Katie: Yes. And if you do that genuinely, without violence in your heart, without anger, without pointing at corporations as the enemy, then people begin to notice. We begin to listen and notice that change through peace is possible. It has to begin with one person, you know. If you’re not the one, who is?
Margaret: Well, that’s true. That’s very true.
Katie: Let’s look at the next statement.
Margaret: I need them to stop hurting and destroying, to start making a difference, and to respect life,
Katie: So, “You need them to do that”—is that true?
Margaret: Well, that would be a great start.
Katie: You need them to do that” — is that true?
Margaret:; Yeah,
Katie: Are you going inside yourself? Are you really asking? “‘You need them to clean it up”—is that true?
Margaret:: Well, I don’t need it for my everyday survival, or anything like that, but yeah, that would be great.
Katie: I hear that. And that’s what you need to be happy?
Margaret: That’s what I want- I know what you meant but it’s so…
Katie: You know, this brings about incredible terror inside you. How do you react when you think the thought that this is what you need, and corporations are doing … oh my … they’ve doing what they do? They’re not listening to you. You’re not even on their Board of Advisors. [The audience laughs.) They’re not accepting your calk. You just get their answering machines. How do you react when you think the Thought that you need them to dean it up, and they don’t?
Margaret: It feels frustrating. Painful. l become agitated and get very angry, very scared.
Katie: Yes. A lot of people won’t even bring children into the world because that thought runs through them without investigation. They live in such fear when they’re attached to this belief, Can you see a reason to drop the belief? And I’m not asking you to drop it.
Margaret: Yeah. I can see many reasons, but I’m really afraid that…
Katie: If you dropped the belief, what would happen?
Margaret: I wouldn’t care anymore.
Katie: And I would ask you: “If you didn’t believe this, you wouldn’t care, you would lose all caring about the environment”—can you really know that that’s true?
Margaret: No.
Katie: If we don’t suffer, we won’t care; What a thought! How do you react when you think the thought that stress is caring, that fear is caring? How do we react when we believe that thought? We become the champions of suffering. But only for a good cause. Only in the name of humanity. We sacrifice our lives to suffering. The story’ goes that Jesus suffered for hours on the cross. How many years have you lived with these nails through your body?
Margaret: I understand.
Katie: Let’s turn it around, sweetheart.
Margaret: Okay. I should stop hurting and destroying.
Katie: Stop hurting and destroying yourself, in the name of cleaning up the planet. “When the planet is cleaned up, then I’ll be peaceful,” Does that make sense? Your pain—is that how we’re going lo clean up the planet? Do you think that if you hurt enough, if you suffer enough, someone will hear you and do something about it?
Margaret: Okay I see it. I need to start making a difference. And l need to start respecting my life.
Katie: Yes, yours. It’s a beginning.
Margaret: So I need to start respecting my own life.
Katie: Yes. Take care of yourself, and when you find peace, when your mental environment is balanced, then be the expert who can go out lo balance the planet, fearlessly, caringly, and effectively. And in the meantime, do the best you cant just like the rest of us. even us corporate people, How can an internally imbalanced, frustrated woman teach others how to clean up their act? We have to learn that ourselves first, and that begins from within. Violence teaches only violence. Stress teaches stress. And peace leaches peace. And for me, peace is entirely efficient. Well done, honey. Nice Work. Would you rather be right or free?
For more information about The Work, read Loving What Is and visit www.thework.org. ©2007 Byron Katie, Inc. All rights reserved
