What's the lesson at hand?

At any given moment, each of us is faced with some perceived threat to what we think we know.  Each situation is itself a wise teacher, providing we are willing to recognize it.  Human beings will often rationalize their conclusions or begin to doubt.  What about you? 

Something is always affecting our senses.  We perceive as we do as the result of adopted conditioning.  To realize the world we initially see isn't what we think it is, is a key step to recognizing lessons that become available.  Its easy enough to say, " I wouldn't do that again" or, "I would see that coming next time," but you can also benefit in the now.

For example, if a parent grounds a child as a form of punishment, that parent could decide to be more or less strict the next time around.  Yet, that parent could also choose to reflect on the reflex to judge and control, and choose to communicate differently.  Opportunities to learn lessons about ourselves crop up all the time.  Yet, do we listen? 

Consider a scenario where your partner loses a job or forgets a special occasion.  What is your initial reaction? Do you reject and reprimand or love and forgive? What do your choices tell you about the attention or disregard you give your own inner wounds?

Who could forget that memorable period at the office? Another case where you didn't get the promotion or responsibilities expected.  You may still hear echos of self-destructive comments in your head, "I didn't deserve it anyway" or, "They don't appreciate me!" 

Aside from that, you can't ignore your recent fender bender.  You may try to convince yourself you weren't paying enough attention to the road.  In your head, you fervently deny you were imagining an x-spouse as the target or some other unresolved calamity.  

And the unexpected break-in of your home? Its easy to say now it would be in your interest to have copies of key documents in places other than on your personal laptop. Why do you keep questioning what you didn't do? Shift instead to focus on what you can.

Its easy to begin to discern the common reaction.  You focus on something other than yourself, your pain, suffering and disillusionment. This relates to situations other than those that seem to bother you now.  The real reasons behind your feelings and behavior often stay hidden.  You choose not to face them.  It may seem easier to project lingering discomfort and anger on something or someone else.  You always have other options.

The lesson at hand invites you to question why you turn away from your true self.  Acknowledging and accepting it is the key to peace, contentment and wavering love.  The situations you create and experience are clues to how you truly feel. No matter what the situation, you always have the choice to look inside yourself.  How can you shift your mind to help you grow and expand awareness? When will you feel grateful for all you are?

Comments

[Bruno]

Its easier for us to identify with the reason why we didn't get the job or why we didn't pay more attention to the road, If I only had backed-up my system. Stop looking at the past because life is a one way path forward, no backing up--So you might as well learn from it and use it to your advantage as you travel through your life path.

[Liara Covert]

Bruno, your points recognize the result of how media has conditioned many people. The human memory is often trained to remember and focus on what feels bad in order to avoid it in future. The irony is that by focusing on negative feelings, a person will attract more conditions that evoke more negative feelings. Thoughts of regret, frustration, anger, and fear of repeating past mistakes, all contribute to generating more of the same.

Another way to understand the underlying message is to teach yourself to focus on thoughts and feelings you would like to have. Invite them in. If you don't want to repeat the past, you need to start by realizing you shouldn't think about it but move beyond it.