Addiction #24 – Arrogance (Part 2 … Way 8 to Freedom) 05/05/12
LICKING THE RAZOR’S EDGE
Addiction #24 – ARROGANCE
(Part 2 … a few Ways to Freedom)
*TIP #08: OPEN MINDS = OPEN HEARTS
(& Open Hearts = Open Minds)
In order to keep ourselves “safe”, we tend to arrogantly categorize the people in our lives as either “allies” — who agree with us and harmonize with our own values, or “enemies” — who do not. Of course, this practice not only keeps us from deeply communing with our “friends” (conditional “love” is not an intimate connection), it also keeps us from knowing the deepest Bliss available to any conscious Being; namely, having the courage to reconcile with those who are annoying us &/or treating us inappropriately — otherwise known as “being Kind anyway”.
As such, it can be an especially effective Path to Peace when we choose to Purpose-fully set aside our preconceived notions about others (especially those we have labeled as “enemies”), to see them anew, and to act accordingly.
We choose to see the Human Being beneath the “crazy lady” and the “village idiot” …
We choose to see the Human Being behind all those who are “too conservative”, and all those who are “too liberal” …
and we choose to see the Human Being inside all the folks we know to be “liars”, “cheats”, “manipulators”, “criminals” and “addicts”.
It isn’t an easy thing to do, of course, and yet that is what makes this practice so powerful. It is a liberating experience indeed to suddenly find yourself surrounded by Good People … and to see how brilliantly Peace-full your life becomes as a result.
Every dysfunctional person on the planet has their own ray of genius from which we can learn and their own gentle Soul with which we can align ourselves. And yet to hear their wisdom, we must choose to set aside our preconceptions about them …
… and to feel their allegiance, we must have the courage to treat them as Friends.
“Be curious, not judgmental.” ~ Walt Whitman
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