Could it be that you—not your parents, children, or any other person or entity—are responsible for your suffering? Quite a radical proposition. In this week's meditation, we explore this notion through the lens of the commonly-held beliefs "I should be appreciated" and "it was all a waste." Many of us can likely relate to the desire to be acknowledged for the sacrifices we make for others—especially when those efforts are a genuine attempt to correct the disappointments of our own childhood. Moreover, we likely know the pain that comes when we do not achieve our desired results. Rather than depending on a person or situation outside of ourselves, Tom invites us to exercise our welcoming presence as a path to peace and resolution. By no longer keeping that "hurt inner child" separate and by allowing her to merge with who we are, we may begin to see that it is our own love and appreciation we've been searching for.
Until love is satisfied by Caroline Corcoran | Awakening by Jimmy Stofer