A New Way of Seeing a Situation

My quest for going 21 days without a complaint has been derailed numerous times since I set out on my brave journey a couple of weeks ago. The most recent setback was due to a note I got from my son's preschool teacher last week. It seems the fruit and cereal bars I've been sending in for his snack for the last several months have trace amounts of some kind of soy product which is in the nut family and there is a student in my son's class with a nut allergy. My first reaction was, "Come on, you've got to be kidding me." That was pretty much the same response offered by my husband.

You see, my son has "sensory issues" and is extremely picky about food. He only tolerates certain textures and tastes. He receives special education for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy. It took us months to find a snack that he will actually eat. We were so pleased (as was his teacher) to have him happily devour something at snack time instead of picking at it and throwing it out. So I wondered who complained and took the time to read all the ingredients on my son's cereal bar. I thought, why can't the kid with the allergy eat in a separate room if he's that sensitive? Why make all the other kids suffer and force parents to be diligently reading all the ingredients on every box of food and trying to figure out what could cause an allergic reaction in someone else's kid?

I knew this was not the energy I wanted to be sending out to the universe, but I was so upset about my own situation, I didn't see it through the other parents' eyes. It must be difficult worrying about your child coming into contact with something that could be lethal to him. I figured I was lucky that my son was just "picky" and doesn't have any food allergies. In fact, I'm grateful that one of his favorite foods is peanut-butter. I can't imagine life without it, myself. The point is, once I stopped and looked at the problem in a different way, I went from outrage to gratitude.

My son is on vacation this week, so I still don't know what kind of snack will replace his beloved fruit and cereal bars, but I'm grateful that I don't have to worry about him dying from something he eats. And next year he starts kindergarten in a nut friendly class--yay! PB&J's, here we come.

I found compassion and changed my attitude--and energy! And since I was successful here, I know I can continue to look at any problem in a different way and find solutions easily. There really is always something to be grateful for if you just open your eyes and look.

Until next time, be prepared for the best!

The Importance of Compassion

Here is another example of synchronicity. I've been trying (unsuccessfully as of yet) to get through 21 days without complaining and I think the reason I and most of us have such a hard time with such tasks is a lack of compassion. When you gain more compassion for others, it's easier to stop yourself in the act of complaining. It's getting a little easier for me, but it's such an ingrained habit that I'm being more compassionate with myself and giving myself more time to learn. So, enjoy this and let me know how your own efforts are going.

April 7, 2008 People Who Don’t Get It

Compassion for All
You may be someone who understands the true nature of reality, perceiving deeply that we all emanate from the same source, that we are all essentially one, and that we are here on Earth to love one another. To understand this is to be awakened to the true nature of the self, and this understanding is a blessing. Nevertheless, people who just do not get it are seemingly everywhere and, often, occupy positions of power. It can be frustrating and painful to watch them behave unconsciously. We all encounter individuals such as this in our families, at work, and in all areas of public life. It is easy to find ourselves feeling intolerant of these people, wishing we could be free of them even though we know that separation from them is an illusion. It helps sometimes to think of us all as different parts of one psyche. Within our own hearts and minds we have dark places that need healing, just as the heart and mind of the world have their dark places. The health of the whole organism depends upon the relative health of the individuals within it. We increase harmony when we hold on to the light, not allowing it to be clouded by judgment, anger, and fear about those who behave unconsciously. It is easier to accomplish this if we don’t focus on the negative qualities of individuals and instead on how increasing our own light will increase that of the overall picture. When dealing with people who seem very unconscious, it helps to remember that everyone must find their own way to awakening, and that the experiences they are having are an essential part of their process. Holding them in the glow of our energy may be the best way to awaken theirs. At the same time, we are inspired by their example to look within and shed light on our own unconscious places, sacrificing the urge to judge and surrendering instead to humble self-inquiry.(This is an excerpt from the new DailyOM Book. To order the book, click the link below.)
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