If only we would learn to pause… breathe… and
become conscious… of ourselves and
of our world…we would notice that
our actions and reactions are often false
and damaging. Changing one small reaction
at a time allows you to let go of negativity.
Releasing anger and resentment will inevitably
manifest compassion. That is our
true nature as human beings. It is anger
and resentment that are self-imposed. Compassion
does not require cultivation. You only need
let go of the anger.
Our reactions are a result of the limitations
that we put upon ourselves—not
to circumstances themselves. In the
forward to Light on Yoga, renowned
violinist, Yehudi Menuhin speaks of human
potential and self-mastery; “With unflagging
patience we refine and animate every cell
as we return daily to the attack, unlocking
and liberating capacities otherwise condemned
to frustration and death. Each unfulfilled
area of tissue and nerve, of brain or lung,
is a challenge to our will and integrity,
otherwise a source of frustration and death.” Is
it possible to look at any present, negative
circumstance and find that at its very origin,
you brought it upon yourself through a reaction
that was based upon self-imposed limitations?
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We
all have present circumstances, but our reactions
to our circumstances are what matter most.
Consider, for example, two people, Mrs. Smith
and Mrs. Jones, whose loved ones are senselessly
murdered. Mrs. Smith seeks revenge and slays
the murderer; while Mrs. Jones dedicates her
life to counseling others who have lost loved
ones. Some how, Mrs. Jones still finds compassion,
realizing that the murderer himself must be
a victim of his own circumstances. She realizes
that perpetuating such a vicious circle cannot
possibly serve any good.
Perhaps Mrs. Smith’s destructive behavior
stems from a feeling that along the way, she
has been robbed of her own happiness. And maybe,
just maybe, that unhappy-ness is deeply seated
in resentment that she harbors regarding her
own limitations. “I never got to do this… I
never got to do that… This or that held
me back… I never had the chance to do
anything because I'm not smart enough… I’ve
never been given the opportunity that she has.
And now I’m justified in kicking somebody’s
ass!” Maybe? Just maybe.
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