Mental subtraction of relationships (DW#660)
All of us have relationships in our lives that are a blessing and also perhaps a relationship or two that can feel like quite a challenge at times.
It is easy for the challenging relationship to take up more than its fair share of space in our mental and emotional bandwidth. Today’s practice can help redress this balance.
The next time you are with a group of friends and/or family, try this:
1. Pause for a moment and consider a single person.
2. Think back to where and how you met this person. If they are a family member, recall your first memories with them.
3. Think about all of the possible events and decisions—large and small—that could have prevented you from meeting this person, or kept him or her from your life.
4. Imagine what your life would be like now if events had unfolded differently and you had never met this person, or if they had left your life at some earlier point. Bring to mind some of the joys and benefits you have enjoyed as a result of this relationship—and consider how you would feel if you were denied all of them.
5. Shift your focus to remind yourself that you did actually meet this person and reflect upon the blessings this relationship has brought you. Now that you have considered how things might have turned out differently, appreciate that these blessings were not inevitable in your life.
6. Take a moment to reflect on the blessing of this relationship. Allow yourself to feel grateful that things happened as they did and this person is now in your life and how your life is enriched because of them.
PS: I am so grateful that you found your way here and are a part of the DailyWisdom family. It is a blessing that I feel truly grateful for. Thank you for your support and for being a fellow traveler on the journey to self-growth.
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