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Here is my reflection to the wonderful article by Timber Hawkeye:
How to build, sustain, and strengthen the bridge of relationships between two people with the same goal but different or opposite approaches? This is a big challenge for sustaining and flourishing interpersonal relationships. It is important to understand not only what but more importantly WHY behind the actions. Empathic understanding of each other is the building block of thriving and peaceful relationships. I love Saint Francis of Assisi's words of wisdom when he shows the importance of seeking to understand rather than to be understood. I love to spend time everyday with my grandson exploring spiritual ways of living life. There are certain ideas of living a spiritual life that are basically different from each other. We respectfully differ and listen to each other empathically and compassionately. This way of relating to each other with an open mind blossoms our relationships. Differences do not create distances between both of us. I deeply value Viktor Frankl's words of wisdom: "Between a stimulus and a response, there is space and in that space there is freedom and power." When I have a different perspective or stance on an issue from the other person, I pause, breathe and create a space in me and empathically and kindly understand the other person's perspective-the WHY- and respond wisely. I also follow the same approach when it happens to me. Let me conclude with Rumi's words of wisdom: "Out beyond ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. I will meet you there." Namaste!
1 Comment
Debbie Podwika
2/13/2022 12:39:27 am
Oh man do I LOVE this one! Reminds me of one of the stories from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Basically, a wife always brought a towel out to take a shower. Her husband always managed to sneak in first & take a shower before her and used her towel. This woman would get very upset but never said anything to her husband. One day she is at a party with her husband and walks up to him talking to his friends how he has such a wonderful wife who puts a towel out for him to shower. She never knew his perspective. He felt very loved. Of course, she could have at that moment just lose it and tell her husband how wrong he was and/or why didn't he then put one out for her? She could take a moment of space to think and then realize why didn't she do this for him in the first place? Why didn't she just solve her problem as well and bring 2 towels each time instead of getting so upset each time? I never forgot this one! :-) Leave a Reply. |
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