- Most of us have ideas and practices that keep us from fully activating our faith in the underlying intelligence of the universe.
We may live (or have been raised) under difficult circumstances that have allowed us to develop flawed beliefs – through little fault of our own. If we lack confidence in ourselves, or, if we continually feel guilty about our errors or ashamed of our perceived shortcomings, we need to overhaul our beliefs. In a similar sense, if we feel better about ourselves when we injure others, (or if we think that these actions are necessary or of minor importance), our logic has been damaged. To repair it, we must sort through our assumptions and simplify our view of life.
We must practise seeing our own negative behaviour for what it is, not as a retaliatory gesture, but simply our own negative behaviour, something that once we learn to live with can be vastly improved by modifying our logic and learning how to develop and practise self-control until our new behaviour automates itself.
The strange nature of such a change is that before we acknowledge our own caustic contributions, we will constantly run into people who push our buttons and bring out those feelings and behaviours. Once we get a grip on our own actions and decide what the limits of our own behaviour are, we will find that most of the people we now meet are not the sorts of people who need to push our buttons. When we do come upon someone who makes the attempt, we realize that the button no longer exists, and even that the attempt to provoke us is actually quite transparent and funny.
- When a healthier perspective has been developed, we no longer think the same way and therefore, no longer stimulate the same neurons. Our way of responding to the world changes, and so does the way the world responds to us.
However, if our perception is incorrect or incomplete, and we then believe our flawed interpretation, we stand a good chance of making life happen as we fear it already is.
Practically-speaking...
For instance, if we incorrectly believe that Jo Blo down the hall doesn't like us, we will experience a certain reaction every time we have to deal with this person. If we find out that we were mistaken (and that Jo does like us, but is shy or very reserved), the response we had before will cease to occur. We'll feel completely different now when we run into J.B., and our subsequent behavior will cause a new effect.
And that's just in the easily trackable macro world where cause and effect are easily apprehended! On a micro-level, the electochemical signature we generate when feeling benign would certainly be tagged as 'preferable' to one that exists when we are feeling irritated, aggravated or just plain p*ssed off.
But how, you might ask, do you alter that irritated, aggravated or otherwise negative state of mind or emotion if you receive undeniable proof that Joe Blow up the hall does not like you? (I'll be writing in a future post about how to be okay with some dissension, but the quick answer is: continue to be your natural self. Remain open to reconciliation. (If Joe decides you're not so bad afterall and extends an olive branch, always try to give things a chance. Of course if you suffer palpitations, fear and panic attacks whenever Joe walks in, it's probably best to be satisfied with doing what comes naturally - even if that includes getting the h*ll out of the room. Sometimes we're just not ready for certain associations (which may be hiding future obstacles that we are not experienced enough to overcome.)
(Don't deny your inner voice, but never pretend your intuition is guiding you if it's not. If you do, you are "impersonating" your inner guide. Eventually you will forget the real voice of the guide (i.e. the sensation of intuitive knowledge) because you will always be injecting your own will upon everything. Live life as naturally as possible. Live according to your own values and don't worry too much about the short run.)
The Golden Rule = Elur Nedlog Eht
It should be said that the Golden Rule, "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you." applies backwards too. Those who treat others well, sometimes don't afford themselves the same kindnesses. If we are too frequently bogged down by guilt or other self-castigating emotions, (shame, anger, embarrassment, envy, jealousy, distrust, etc.), we must look at ourselves and others through more forgiving eyes, until we feel that we have discovered our most mature perspective (for this moment).
Next: Relying on Experts for Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment