The world is us, reflected
How will you choose to respond?
Dear one,
I get triggered because I see what I don’t like about myself in you.
The world is a reflection of ourselves. There is a seed within me of the thing I hate the most, the thing I rally against and work to change, the thing I don’t want to touch with a 10-foot pole. And, where others shine in ways I won’t allow myself to shine, they mirror my own sense of inadequacy. I reflect their light back to them, and on the other side of that reflection is a black hole of shame.
What we see out there exists within us.
What do you see? What do you notice?
I see a world that is so utterly disconnected from itself. So blind to who and what it is, what it could be.
I see people who go through the motions, resigning themselves to the monotony of life without allowing joy to permeate their being.
I see conflict, rage and grave misunderstandings. I see victims and perpetrators.
I can’t help but notice the many addictions people have to comforts, technology and substances.
I see family dysfunction, neglect, abuse, abandonment. I see perpetual global warfare. I see martyrs and heretics.
I see division and polarity, painful compromise and utter hopelessness.
I see all of this in me, too.
I also see folks doing their very best to make a living, to heal and learn and grow in the ways that are accessible to them.
I see families enjoying life and doing what brings them happiness.
I see individuals and communities everywhere coming together to have important discussions about what it means to be a human being in a constantly shifting world.
I notice a hunger for purpose and meaning, belonging and acceptance.
I notice the drive toward success and fulfillment.
I see helping hands from those who have more to those who have less.
I see compassion, understanding, optimism and joy.
I see all of this in me, too.
What do you see? What do you notice?
What pisses you off? What disappoints you?
How do others not live up to your expectations? Could these also be expectations that you are not living up to within yourself? If so, why not?
What lights you up? What inspires you? What do you envy? What do you desire?
What will you do with your insights? Forgive and heal or resist and persist?
I’d love to hear from you.
All the Love,
Rebecca
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p.s.:
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Thanks Rebecca. Simple, true, painful and beautiful. When I read what you write it brings the world into focus. I discover that over time I don't get disappointed and pissed off as much as sometimes I notice a deep deep sadness that we create so much suffering. Then there is the deep deep peace that there is something more beyond and beneath the suffering. Like you, both are in me. Thanks Rebecca for being you.
Wow Rebecca. I so appreciate that you are writing about this! And as usual, I love the searing honesty and humility behind the words. For me it speaks, in part, to the place where our would-be spiritual identities get fact-checked by the breath and depth of the crap we remain full of.
It’s like my “I’m-‘trying’-to-be-spiritual” self wants to sit in the cushy, comfortable cab of a new truck; with climate control, shock dampening seats, and great sound isolation to keep the ugly road noise out. Then I notice that the people passing me are looking at me with grimaces on their faces. They wave their hands in front of their noses as if in disgust. And then I remember the awesome truck I drive is also a honey wagon. It such is a powerful thing to realize that we are responsible for the meaning we make about what we think we see.
That’s another reason why I am enlivened by your piece. Most of us are afraid to step into that kind of power precisely because of the responsibility that comes with it. We’d rather keep projecting or blaming; ourselves or others. Or, more fairly, we just haven’t made the connection yet between the story we are telling about others and the one we are telling about ourselves.
So those skilfully worded “noticing” questions you pose in your piece are actually pretty fierce invitations. The one about envy, in particular, seemed to jump off the page and sock me in the jaw. So um, like, maybe there could be something in that one for me? 🤭😜
Can’t remember if I shared with you one of my favourite Anaïs Nin quotes. She says “We don’t see things are they are. We see them as we are.” And then I picture her taking a long haul off her french Citanes cigarette and nonchalantly blowing a plume of smoke into the air above her. 🚬👩🎨
Thank you as ever for sharing your writing and, most importantly, the soul at work behind it. ❤️
Peace,
Marc