Have you noticed times when you have an immediate reaction to something?
I had a moment like that myself last week. Someone close to me being praised, thanked, for a job well done while much of what I do seems to go unnoticed.
Immediately, I felt anger. I have done a boatload more than this and I hear nothing but criticism.
And then, I stop myself. First: because those thoughts will run rampant — if I let them. What good is that doing me?
Second: we never know what is truly going on under the surface.
There are a thousand explanations as to the “why” of something. What if that person was having a bad day that I didn’t know about, but the other person did and knew they needed a lift? Or perhaps this was the commenter’s recognition that he had been more critical lately and wanted to encourage? Or. Or. Or.
It is important that we recognize our feelings; for, sometimes they arise swift and sudden. They are showing us ourselves. As we get curious, we ask: what is this bringing up for me? How can I show up as I want to, rather than reacting?
To consider “other explanations” is solely to remind us that we never really know what is behind something. I could be angry over a nonexistent situation other than the one I’ve made in my head.
I share this to caution us: tread lightly upon earth which our feet have not walked.
Mind where your steps take you and consider that appearances are elusive — they do not always match the substrate.
