relationships as mirrors (check yourself before you wreck yourself)

I received an email from a friend, thanking me for a note I sent her… She wrote, You are the best… I responded, I’m not the best… I only mirror how people treat me… so you’re the best… I never thought about it before. The other person, in a way, sets the scene and stage. Not that they provide the script or have power over my actions… rather, I am approachable first and foremost, then automatically follow your lead. For example, if you accept me, why wouldn’t I accept you? If you partly accept me, then I will partly accept you. If inwardly you harbor resentments towards me, then eventually, my actions shift to include what is bubbling beneath the surface. Issues then seem to materialize and I don’t know what to do but lash out. However, (I say this with confidence) when I am harsh, it is for a reason other than I’m just a mean old witch! Even though I interpret emotions accurately, I am not a mind reader, and there is a difference. I like to believe I have powers (which I do not)… so how precisely could I GUESS someone else’s feelings based on MY perceptions? But now that I am aware, I want to be honest and admit to issues as they arise… and advance from that point. Rather than playing games (which can lead to irreparable results… like I did many times in the past), isn’t candor the more effective approach to a conflict? Before reacting in the usual way, with over-sensitivity (on a scale from 1-10, registering at 200 on the REACT-O-METER), I now recognize my triggers and can re-examine my attitude. This is the first step to liberation from my automatic defenses cemented in my brain. As Ice Cube said, Ch- chickity- check yo self (yourself) before you wreck yo self (yourself)…

By, analyzing my exchanges with others, I see how relationships serve as mirrors to my inner world and expose truth…

Living Authentically.

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