“If it is a virtue to love my neighbor as a human being, it must be a virtue – and not a vice – to love myself, since I am a human being, too.“  Eric Fromm

You–Past–Future–Others–God–Feelings–Culture–Beliefs–Ego–Talents-Challenges
–Love–Groups–Fat–Cancer–Illness– Institutions–Countries–Others’ Beliefs / Actions –Spiders–Snakes–Kittens….  These are a few example components with which we humans have a relationship.

Any one of these components actively exiled from the whole disturbs our inner peace.  Suppose we resist an event from our past.  That resistance disturbs. It’s like a magnet from the past reaching forward and drawing to it energy and attention.  It takes up resources that could be used to create, plan, laugh, have sex, etc.  It often generates unconscioius beliefs.   Resisting any one component gives it undue emphasis. We think we gain peace by ignoring or excluding or judging parts that disturb us.  The opposite appears to be true.  For years I couldn’t sleep, so for years I’ve fiercely and fearfully guarded my sleep time – afraid to fall into a pattern of exhaustion.  Now, I just sleep.  I put way less energy on the process.

Love includes aspects of allowing, accepting, generosity, and forgiveness.  This kind of love is the glue that unites all the parts into a whole.  Love is a cornerstone of peace.  Without this love there is still turmoil.

Action
Using the list above as a start, take an inventory of the parts of your world that are exiled.  These are judged, deemed wrong, and unforgiven. Make a list in the left hand column on a sheet of paper with 3 vertical columns.  “I dislike the opposite political party, I dislike the extra fat on my body, I am jealous of the people who seem to have easy success in business.”

Now, in the middle column write what you believe you gain by excluding these parts.  “I get to be right, I’ll feel guilty so it’ll make up for how bad I am, I get to be irresponsible”.  Finally in the right hand column, write what you lose by excluding these parts. “I lose calm, presence.  I lose a relationship with my body.  I lose learning from the people who are successful in business.”  Just notice – there is no right or wrong.  If it makes sense to you, notice if you are willing to love (include, accept, allow) any or all of these components as they are, no conditions, no matter how much you disagree with them. Check those off.   Good.  If you are willing, then move from resisting to allowing and loving.  Being willing is a very good start.  Then it becomes your process.  Make, reveal, express love.  Experiment.  Thank you! Let me know what happens!

Peace,

Nancy