Know we are in this together

As we take a moment to understand where a troubled person is coming from, that is, why a person is troubled or is causing us trouble, this enables us to sense we are in this thing called life together. 

Problems you detect are teachers that can be developed and nurtured as qualities inside. Predjudice blocks your objective observation and how to be at peace with whatever unfolds.  Be aware that opening the mind to connections with everyone enables one to access secrets of kindness, compassion and wisdom.

How do you respond to ridicule?

Ridicule affects people differently.  Some people react to ridicule with intense emotion and/or use words.  Ryokan offers another example.  He is a Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. He responds to ridicule by bowing deeply in silence.  He does not seek to explain or justify himself.  

What if you allow energy to flow and respond to everything and everyone with kindness? Take a moment.  Notice what you feel is happening.  Wisdom is not acquired, but reveals itself inside as one lives fully. 

Mindfulness serves you

Choices actually do not harm you.  Being unaware of the thinking process behind your choices or being selectively aware of the consequences, does not serve you.  You may ask then, what truly serves you? 

Many people are materially-wealthy but crave time. How often do you question or reflect rather than follow the norm? When it comes to happiness, how do you measure it, how much do you want or need? Contemplate the extent of your own short-sightedness.  Which choices serve you and which do not? When you want things, do you honestly feel satisfied? The wealthy are those who make time for each other, who create a loving quality of life. Peace, contentment, compassion, generosity, are immeasurable.  To want for nothing is a most wonderful feeling. As you align with timeless peace in the heart, share it with the world.

Undermine the delusions

Consider states of mind thrive on negativity and control.  Some people sense fear prompts one to control and perpetuate delusion. One discovers that to access the doorway to the heart requires a shift in focus. 

What happens as you take off the pressure? How does it feel to realize you do not have to please anyone?  As you empower others, you cease to judge and exert control.  To judge indicates you have an ego that assesses and you do not understand truth. As you raise awareness, everything is unjudgable.

Why judge self? To be unconditionally aware reminds you how to be unconditionally kind, loving to self and others.  You are free and have no reason to judge. People who free themselves do no harm and teach freedom to others.  The less you control, the deeper you connect with the infinite joy, health and energy within. The effort to control others reminds you that you have an ego.  To detach is to gradually vanish. 

Be kind to yourself

When was the last time you truly noticed how you treat yourself? Listen to the words you use. Are you kind? Are you understanding? Do you accept, resist or reject what is happening? Do you get easily uptight? This is an invitation to care.

Open your heart.  Allow yourself to feel your way through the inner messages you are sending. What if every time you communicate to the world, you are actually inviting yourself to love more unconditionally? Laugh uncontrollably.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 

-Mother Teresa