For each of us, our responsibility is to focus on doing our own inner work, tend to our own gardens and keep our opinions out of the gardening of others. However, an integral part of our human experience is the shared connections we have to the humans around us so while we are tending to our own patch of soil, we’re also looking at the humans around us and expanding our ability to see, and to understand what we see.
“Despite how open, peaceful, and loving you attempt to be, people can only meet you, as deeply as they’ve met themselves. This is the heart of clarity.” – Matt Kahn
“When viewing others as characters who have wronged us, a moment of personal abandonment occurs. Instead of remaining present to the sheer devastation that we may be feeling, a need to align with ego can occur through the blaming of others. While it seems nearly instinctive to see life as the comings and goings of how people treat us, this is the reaction from our ego, not the view of our soul.” – Matt Kahn
“From the standpoint of ego, life is a play of me versus you or us versus them. But from the soul’s perspective, characters are like instruments that help develop and uncover the melody of our highest vibration. Even when the friction of conflict seems to divide people, as souls we are working together to play out the exact roles to clear, activate, and awaken our true radiance.” – Matt Kahn
“What emotion do you wish for others to feel in your presence?” – Matt Kahn
When you frequently see other people as “the enemy”, you’re turning against your own true nature which wants connection and collaboration. When you’re identified with the ego then you’re not just caught up in a war with the world, but also in a war within yourself.
When you’re identified with soul you understand why people can be protective, defensive, aggressive and even hurtful. From the perspective of your soul it’s easy to see how people act from their own woundedness, hurting others and also themselves in the process. And while you may sometimes find it necessary to maintain a boundary, saying “no” from your soul always comes with kindness, even though it’s an immovable force.
Unless you live on a mountain top in solitude, other humans will always play a big role in your life, so upgrading the lens through which you understand people will only add to your own happiness and to the healing of the humans around you.
Today’s meditation journey helps us see the humans around us through a lens of compassion, and reminds us that everyone is fighting a battle that we may know nothing about. Come and sit in the circle with us.
Mantras for self-reflection:
- “I choose to see others with compassion and empathy.”
- “I set boundaries from a place of kindness and self-care.”
- “I can set boundaries without being harsh or judgmental.”
- “Everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they have.”
By cultivating a mindset of compassion, we can break down the barriers that divide us and create a world that is more connected, more harmonious, and more compassionate.
Setting boundaries is not about isolating. It’s about protecting our well-being, while insisting on healthy connections.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Tonglen.