25 November 2020
Everything about life is relationships. I’m not necessarily referring to relationships with other people, although that is always important. I’m talking about your relationship with everything. Take time this morning to examine your relationships with every situation you encounter. How is your relationship with food, or with your finances? What kind of relationship do you have with your body? Do you hate or love your body? What kind of relationship do you have with your situation at work? How do you relate to certain news headlines, or social media posts that go against your values? What about traffic or all of those emails waiting for your answer later today? Take a moment to reflect on what you may have made your foe – including your own actions and behaviors. When you say you hate something, it means you’ve developed a negative relationship with it.
The mind has a way of personifying just about everything that comes into its purview. We all say that “we hate this,” or “we love that.” These statements imply that there is an inherent relationship with the objects of your affection or disgust. A bill that you have to pay, or a dreaded meeting that you don’t want to attend, can all be viewed by the mind as an unwelcome demon. Your relationship to daily life can become so contentious that your mood can become sullen, dull and snippy. Most people live with this kind of internal struggle. But today, be the one who rises above all of that contentious energy.
When you turn things into an enemy, you cannot use good judgment in the face of challenge. When your morning commute, or your mountain of emails become demonized by your mind, you cannot be polite, or offer encouragement to others. Whatever you may be making your enemy, turn it around this morning and let go of the grip it has on you. It is probably true that most of everything you have to face today is harmless. There is never a good reason to hate anything or anyone. Take one task at a time, and you may find yourself actually enjoying yourself today. Don’t demonize anything today. Welcome each moment as if it’s your best friend. Welcome everything with peacefulness and joy and be encouraged that you can develop a loving relationship with everything that comes your way.