When People Are Cruel
Walk the way of love
“If you’re willing to look at another person’s behavior towards you as a reflection of the state of the relationship they have with themselves, rather than a statement of your value as a person, then over a period of time you will cease to react at all.” -Yogi Bhjan
Oh my, do we all have our shit we carry. Sometimes it’s because we’re overwhelmed, overtired, or we’re just going through life and someone else ends up on the shit end of our stick.
People can be mean, people can be cruel but a lot of times it’s the state of the relationship they have with themselves and has jack shit to do with us.
(Of course there is the - if you’re surrounded by assholes you might want to reevaluate if you’re the asshole- situation)
But mostly I like to think of this quote in dealing with cruel assholes.
"When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over.
He does not need punishment; he needs help. That’s the message he is sending."
-Thich Nhat Hahn
Even if that help is merely being kind, or not adding or feeding into their suffering, or simply just walking away.
Compassion is a state of being, like love, like kindness.
It’s important to remember though, being compassionate must include yourself.
This does not mean taking abuse, in the namesake of ‘love’, or continually trying to help people who will suck you dry. Because that’s discompassionate and unkind to yourself.
You separate yourself and wish them peace from their suffering, for your own centered peace.
Go on and walk the way of love.
We’re all suffering here, one thing I’ve learned for sure. Something we all share, across all humanity.
So be kind.
What the world needs is a little more kindness and compassion for one another. Understanding.
Reminder (because this one is really important): your compassion is incomplete unless it includes yourself!
It’s compassionate self love, self care and self respect to protect yourself from toxic environments.
Knowing your value and worth, when the other does not.
Taking a beat before reacting to a person’s unkindness, in kindness for your own wellbeing.
In walking away, whatever care and energy you were attempting to give someone, can now be reinvested in you. It can also be invested in someone who appreciates the value of your energy and care.
You wouldn’t walk into an area with high radiation and no protection.
Why keep radioactive people in your life?
Unfortunately, for some, radioactive is the state of their being in life. We offer them some silent love and peace on their way and walk on. This is non negotiable for your health and well being. (This is including family)
Know sometimes their behavior is not necessarily about you but their unrecognized suffering.
And what you can do is be kind enough to yourself and the other to realize-
What do I need to do right now to get back to peace?
Offer them peace on their way to get back to your peace. There is life.
Get back to your peace.
