LIVE AT A
HIGHER LEVEL
The better we
can respond to life situations, the better life we can have.
For example, in a thunderstorm you can tell yourself that it’s a rotten day and
feel bad about it or tell yourself that nature is producing an enlivening event
and enjoy it.
Or, when someone complains about something you did, you can take it as an
attack and get combative or take it as an opportunity to listen respectfully and
increase understanding. Then, instead of weakening your relationship, you may
strengthen it.
How we respond
to events makes a great difference. Usually, the
more constructively and creatively we respond, the better results we can get. But often this may not seem possible because
negative reactions quickly take over.
To counter
this, it helps to practice SELF-OBSERVATION: watching over oneself with some detachment.
When we do
this it becomes possible to choose more constructive and creative responses –
even when events are unpleasant and normally disturbing for us. This is because
by observing ourselves, we may notice our negative feelings beginning to rise,
then put a hold on them long enough to try to see things from a different angle.
And once we do, we may be then able to take a more positive action. We might
even lose our seriousness and see something comic about the situation and
respond with amusement.
Self-observation
is a simple thing, but it can be difficult to do because we must remember to do it. But making the effort is well worth it. It
can completely change the quality of your life.
I’ve seen it happen in my own life as well as in the lives of many
others.
Practice OBJECTIVE
SELF-OBSERVATION and see what it can do for you.
Goodness and
joy to all, Joseph.
