“The most efficient pathway to God is through a committed relationship.”
Ram Das
You Want WHO To Change?
The word committed in the above quote is important because a committed relationship can be in any form, but it is one you don’t leave. It is one where you commit to work things out through thick and thin. Anybody can quit a relationship and walk out, or avoid in other ways like stopping talking, avoiding confrontation, being unwilling to listen or change. That’s easy and growth will not happen. But when one is committed, one takes on the challenge and opportunity to grow immensely because one is challenged to face problems and breakdowns head-on and is especially challenged to face one’s OWN life lessons.
Most people think if the other person in their committed relationship would only change then everything would be fine. We hear ourselves say, “If my husband would just come home when he says he will” or “If my employees would only work harder” or “If my kids would just stop fighting.” They launch into a campaign to “fix” the other person, but to no avail because,
No matter how hard you work on the wrong thing, it makes no difference!
Those of you who have worked on relationships with me have heard me say many, many times that we attract the perfect people to teach us the lessons WE need to learn in this lifetime to spiritually grow and evolve as human beings on this planet.
For example, have you ever been irritated at your partner for dawdling, or for being late, or for repeating the same silly mistake over and over? Perhaps your lesson is patience or acceptance.
Has your partner ever been irritated at you for dawdling, being late, or repeating the same silly mistake over and over again? Perhaps your lesson is to be proactive in your planning, or to keep your word, or to stay conscious.
To have a committed relationship “work” (as a marriage, a friendship, a parent-child or work relationship) you will be required to learn these lessons, and every time you do, you will grow as a spiritual being.
By spiritual, I don’t necessarily mean religious. I know plenty of people who claim to be religious who aren’t spiritual. The spiritual part of you is the part that walks the High Road. The part that is all forgiving, all loving, and all accepting – the part of you that stands for justice and truth.
We are all familiar with that side of ourselves yet, if you are like most of us, you can slip off this path pretty easily and many times it is because of a breakdown within a committed relationship. When you find your emotions being triggered by another person, what is it you need to learn about yourself?
If your wife “makes” you angry (maybe you need to learn understanding or self-control). If your husband pushes you around (learn to hold your personal boundaries). If your boss “makes” you want to gossip (learn loyalty or minding your own business). If your children “make” you yell (learn patience or more effective ways to communicate). If you stop talking to a friend (learn forgiveness or a willingness to confront difficult conversations).
I don’t know what it is for you personally, but when emotions are triggered, ask yourself,
“What is the lesson here for me? What do I need to learn?”
A lesson will be served until it is learned.
Have you ever noticed yourself having the same negative reaction over and over?
Have you noticed how you are repeatedly upset with the other person in your relationship because they are doing the same irritating things again and again?
That’s because you haven’t learned YOUR lesson yet. As soon as you do, the problem will go away. Notice I didn’t say the OTHER person would change. They might. They might not. I simply said the problem would go away.
Lessons are neverending. As soon as you learn one lesson, another will soon follow and your perfect teacher will be there to serve it to you. If you resist learning this reality of life, perhaps your lesson is: humility or to surrender and accept. It is what it is.
Your path to spiritual evolvement won’t change and it won’t stop sending you lessons.
Ever.