Addiction #24 – Arrogance (Part 2 … Way 7 to Freedom) 05/05/12
LICKING THE RAZOR’S EDGE
Addiction #24 – ARROGANCE
(Part 2 … a few Ways to Freedom)
*TIP #07: BREATHE DEEPLY
Whenever we mislead ourselves into believing that we have “more important things to do”, and that these things must somehow be completed “on time”, we miss out on life’s truly Important opportunities.
The CEO is late for a meeting and rushes past the homeless beggar … The father stays late at work and misses his daughter’s ball game … The co-worker snaps in annoyance when his colleague is distracted and makes the same mistake twice that day … A woman becomes frustrated and yells at her partner who is “late again”.
It is reasonable to be tempted to become agitated when things don’t go as planned, or become upset when our expectations are not satisfied. And yet even though it is reasonable to feel such emotions, it is not effective to act on them – and it is not required to do so.
We are not “only human”, my Friends … We are HUMAN. We are not subject to the whim of our selfishly arrogant impulses. We can choose!
So, when you are tempted to rush or hurry, choose to breathe deeply instead.
When you are tempted to become frustrated, choose to breathe deeply instead.
When you are tempted to become annoyed, choose to breathe deeply instead.
When you are tempted to become impatient, choose to breathe deeply instead.
And after you have taken that deep breath – and turned your grimace into the most subtle of smiles, remember that it is the others around you who are the only truly Important “tasks” in your life …
So, after you have taken that deep breath, remember to look around for someone who could use some Kindness, and then go “out of your way” – just for a few minutes – to give them the same.
“We cannot change anything until we first accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses. Only acceptance coupled with gentleness can remind us of what life is truly all about.” ~ inspired by Carl Jung
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