IT IS ANOTHER PARADOX

Learning to live with others' well-bring as primary in our heart is ego resistance in depth...and, therefore, usually feels wrong, unhealthy, even unself-esteemable...especially if that other is someone we're not too crazy about to begin with...times 100 if that someone gives the slightest vibe of resistance to us.

From my eyebrows up, at least, I am open to this practice...it's the consistently doing it that trips me up. As in, after the first few times of being non-resistant (not have any self-determined objective except a welcoming heart), my ego usually declares, "Enough...been there, done that, now the other gets to step and fetch for me."

Again, still, always it is for me to keep the focus on me, my reaction...because nothing else makes it so clear what the problem is, and it sure ain't the other. Here's exactly why ego reduction in depth is so difficult...it seems never-ending when we are in fact just getting started.

The most important fact to remember: When there is no spiritual principle behind our actions, when our self-determined objective is either self-protection or currying the favor of another, putting another's welfare first can be a fast track to doormat. When we remember that spiritual principles can solve all our problems...ah, there it is There's our answer.

The prayer of St. Francis comes to mind here, especially where we pray not to seek to be loved but to love, not to be understood, but to understand, not to be forgiven but to forgive. That is putting others' well-being first...which is not possible for our reasoning mind. We must go beyond reason to love.

Thank You.