Lesson From Our Struggles

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind: yet, strange, I am grateful to all of those teachers. – Khalil Gibran

Who are your greatest teachers? Who appears to be causing you the most disruption? Who gives you the greatest opportunity to demonstrate acceptance?

Our greatest opportunities to learn are often times disguised in those unpleasant moments we want to live without.

The next time your partner does something hurtful, this is your lesson in forgiveness.

The next time a driver cuts you off in traffic, this is your lesson in patience.

The next time your mother gives you a hard time about not visiting enough, this is your lesson in compassionate listening.

We often will get stuck in the idea that we know exactly what is going on (e.g. they are crazy or that person is so selfish).  When we look through the craziness of another we will see that there is a frightened individual unsure of the circumstance. By looking past the selfishness in a person we can see that we are looking at someone who is terrified of not having enough.

Give yourself the opportunity to look again. When you see the innocence in another you are reminded of your own innocence.