Seeing from the Heart – On Relationships By Melinda Johnston

Self-Examination is an important element of Spiritual Development.  The practice leads to a renewed Awareness in which we feel “expanded” or awake.  In higher Awareness we notice the presence of Inner Peace more often, which prompts us to become more consistent with our practice.  We learn through experience that we feel better when we start our day in meditation or with Scripture.

But then we go out into the world, and it is full of other people! Rude people, bossy people, un-awakened people, and we try our best to “keep our cool” and stay centered!

We also have family members to contend with on a regular basis, or at least during holiday celebrations.  How is our relationship with them??  One of my favorite spiritual quotes is from Ram Das on this very subject.  It came to mind every year when I had to head home to Texas for the holidays:

If you think you are enlightened, spend a week with your family.  – Ram Dass

What is it about family members and their “power” to activate our inner triggers???  Overall, the question is, “How can we gently guide ourselves into the art of maintaining the “Mind of Christ” when in relationship with others??

The easy answer is found in the book, The Four Agreements…Don’t take any personally.  This is a wise idea, but how do we learn to apply this Wisdom in day to day living?  How do we shape-shift ourselves to not experience anxiety, irritation, anger, or frustration when our deeply seated triggers are activated by the actions of others?

The Egoic Operating System vs. Unity Consciousness

We are at a place in our spiritual practices that we now know our human responses to the daily stresses of life are simply fear-based habits contained within our Egoic Operating System…aka: the Human Design.  This default system, the Ghost in the Machine, will always automatically go into Self-Protection mode anytime we feel threatened.

Ego, often associated with our sense of self, is the part of our consciousness that gives us a distinct identity. It is the voice in our heads that constantly evaluates, judges, and compares ourselves to others. While the Ego serves a purpose in helping us navigate through life, it can also be a source of suffering and limitation.

The Ego tends to separate us from others and create a sense of division. IT feeds on fear, desires, and attachments, leading to a constant cycle of wanting, striving, and dissatisfaction. By identifying too strongly with our Ego, we lose sight of our inter-connectedness and the bigger picture of life.

In relationship with others, we have become conditioned to feel threatened by silly things such as:

Long lines at check out in any store

Slow traffic / cut off in traffic

Feeling unheard, or being talked over

Being disagreed with, or shouted at

Struggle of any kind with strangers, co-workers, or on hold for 20 minutes with a customer service department of any business

Rising into Unity Consciousness will always require a ‘forgetting of oneself,’ by which we allow above mentioned situations to ACT as tools of Awareness so we can immediately notice the frustration Ego is experiencing, not respond to it, and instead attempt to engage in selfless service.

Let us remember that Unity Consciousness is a higher awareness that perceives everything in terms of Harmony.

The concepts of separation and oneness represent contrasting perspectives on the nature of reality, which includes the experience of our own existence and our relationship with others.

Oneness is the philosophical or spiritual concept that emphasizes the inter-connectedness of all things. It suggests that, at a fundamental level, everything is interconnected, sharing a universal essence or Source.

Because Life is an expression of LOVE, each act of Love is a participation and gift to the whole.

Love reaches across boundaries, expressing what is most essential and human: what unites rather than divides. “Small things with great love,” are more potent and powerful than we realize, because they reconnect us with the spiritual roots of life and its transformative and healing energies.

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love draws us back to love, love uncovers love, love makes us whole, and love takes us Home.

In the depths of the Soul, we are loved by God. This is the deepest secret of being human, the bond of love that is at the core of our being and belongs to all that exists. And the more we live this love, the more we give ourselves to this mystery that is both human and divine.  The more fully we participate in life as it really is, in its wonder and moment by moment revelation, we become renewed daily.

In short, to rise above the limitations of the Egoic Operating System.  We are to re-wire our identity to God or LOVE first, then engage with the demands of being a human on this planet.

Growing and evolving into Unity Consciousness is an invitation to say, “Yes,” to this mysterious LOVE within our own hearts.  We are to expand beyond the confinement of the Egoic Operating System and learn to trust a LOVE that unites us all, realizing that LOVE is the fabric of ALL LIFE.

When we are actively loving others, we are with God.

About Melinda Johnston:  Melinda Johnston, M.Msc. Spiritual Philosopher and Coach, Intuitive Healer, Wellness Consultant, International Speaker, Author, and Peace Activist.

Melinda resides in upstate New York, yet services clients and students all over the world as a Soul / Consciousness Coach, Meditation Instructor, Wisdom Teacher, Retreat Leader, International Author, and Ordained Minister. 

Melinda's website: https://buddhiinstitute.wordpress.com/