Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Acceptance and Compassion

It's interesting to me to observe how the lack of acceptance of self or situations or others (or all of the above) also leads to a lack of compassion. Not really a big leap when you consider that if we aren't in acceptance then we are in some form of resistance such as denial, rejection, defensiveness, aggressiveness, fear and/or projection. When in resistance mode the objective is generally self-protection so there isn't much room left for the desire to relieve suffering in self or other.

The belief that there is danger in some form or other is behind almost all non-acceptance. This has gone so deep underground that most people do not even begin to question whether it is in fact true or not, we just react. Most of the time we are oblivious to the fact that we are afraid; we've become so adept at masking it and coping instead of facing it. When I say facing it, I mean being truly present to the fear and seeing what the beliefs and assumptions are that fuel the fear. We are rarely in real danger as adults unless there is someone or something about to take our lives. Acknowledging that those are times of true threat, there remains a massive preponderance of situations where we react with some form of self-protective behavior even though there is no true threat, just a story we've told ourselves about not being safe.

Truth is, there is no real 'safety' in the world; the whole concept is false in the first place so that isn't where we'll find it. So often I've seen people attempt to move beyond their comfort zones by trying to act as though they aren't afraid only to be thrown back in because they were still looking for something or someone to be different 'out there' in order to confirm that they were safe (or perhaps to confirm that they weren't). Doing the inner work of true acceptance doesn't mean anything will change in the world, it means that we accept what is and make peace with that, thus freeing up energy and creativity for a new experience of life. It doesn't happen the other way around, at least not as far as I can tell.

compassion Pictures, Images and PhotosBecoming aware of the stories we have bought hook, line and sinker about how we have to be or how the world needs to be in order to be OK is a big step forward in making the shift from resistance to compassion. When we no longer expect things to be different is when the space is created for that shift to happen; that's the paradox. When we are no longer seeking we find that what we have been chasing was here all the time.

Namaste

2 comments:

  1. Your comments are right on! And they are reverberated in slightly different format by Peggy Black as:

    "The vibrations of love in the purest form are truly the frequency keys to your own and this planet's transformation and ascension.

    "Begin first of all with the expression of love of self. Remove all the beliefs, the issues, doubts, patterns and thoughts that stand in the way of you truly loving yourself and being grateful for who you are. Discover all the ways that you have suppressed a feeling of genuine love and respect for yourself. If this is an emotion or concept that is difficult to feel or express, begin with the simple state of gratitude. Be grateful for who you are and for the beauty that is in this world, in nature, animals, and small children. Then begin to expand that feeling and embrace more and more of the collective with deep appreciation and the expression of love.

    "Remember that all limitations are ones that you have created yourself and they will hold you as hostage until you love them free. We invite you to welcome, embrace, and love your unlimited Self."

    The full message is at:
    http://www.therainbowscribe.com/emissaryoflove.htm

    With Love

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  2. Indeed we are talking about the same thing here. Time to take down those barriers and live fully and freely as what we really are.
    Thanks Vello.

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