Checks and Balances

Checks and Balances When we see ourselves in other people, it can be a great opportunity for growth if we are willing to do the work. Most of us have probably come across the universal wisdom that the people who irritate us the most are expressing qualities that we ourselves have. This is why family members can be so vexing for so many of us -- we see ourselves in them, and vice versa. This isn't always true, of course, but when it is, it's a real opportunity for growth if we can acknowledge it, because it is infinitely easier to change ourselves than it is to try to change another person, which is never a good idea. For example, if we have a coworker who engages in some kind of negative behavior, like complaining or trying to control everything, we can look and see if we ourselves carry those traits. We may have to look to other situations in our lives to see it, because we behave differently in different environments. Perhaps we don't complain at work, because our coworker overdoes it, but maybe we do it with our friends. Maybe we aren't controlling at the office, but we're used to being in control at home, and this is why we feel so irritated not to be in control at work. Even if we look and find that we are not engaging in the same behavior that we see as negative in others, we can still learn from what we are seeing in this person. The truth is, human nature is universal, and we share many of the same tendencies. What we see in others can always help us to understand ourselves more deeply. Having the ability to see something in another person, and automatically bring this observation back to ourselves, is like having a built-in system of checks and balances that enables us to be continually engaged in self-exploration and behavior change. When we see behavior we don't like, we can make a concerted effort to weed it out of ourselves, and when we see behavior we do like, we can let it inspire us to engage in imitation. Through this process, we read our environment and let it influence us to bring out the best in ourselves. [PRINT]( [SAVE]( [DISCUSS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- DailyOM Course Spotlight [Change Your Life with Tea]( by Mary Ann Rollano Whether you've been drinking tea of years, want to start enjoying tea, or would like to explore specialty teas, get ready for a transformative journey that will take your usual cup of tea to another level. This immersive experience will guide you on the many physical and spiritual benefits of tea. With this 14-day course, you'll receive a daily introduction to a specific tea group or the virtues of the chemical properties in a tea. Additionally, you will get a specifically designed reflection to go with your tea for a complete, meditative tea session. By the end, you will have a wealth of tea knowledge, a life-affirming meditation practice, and be steeped in calm and well-being. [Learn More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 DailyOM Courses 1. [Shakti Warrior Dance for Healing]( 2. [Surviving Your Dysfunctional Family]( 3. [Beneficial Stretches for the Inflexible]( 4. [The Art of Intuitive Tarot]( 5. [Pelvis Reset for Lower Back Pain]( 6. [What Women Need to Know About Men]( 7. [A Year of Rumi]( 8. [The 9 Minute Science-Based Workout]( 9. [Re-Parent Your Inner Child]( 10. [From Codependent to Independent]( New Courses • [Belly Dancing Goddess Workout]( • [How to Write Your Truth]( • [What Dreams Really Mean]( • [Move Your Core, Change Your Life]( > [More Courses]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Home]( | [Inspiration]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( | [Gift Shop]() [Email Settings]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help/FAQ]( © 2019 DailyOM - All Rights Reserved No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission. Subscribed as {NAME}[at]gmail.com (1276706) [1]