That's what's inside...

So I'm sitting at Starbucks with a friend yesterday and we start talking about Dr Wayne Dyer - you know, the motivational guy who is just full of divine wisdom it seems. Well, Mr Dyer recently recorded a little talk about oranges that I found really interesting....

He asked - If you take an orange and slice it in half and start to squeeze the daylights out of it - what comes out?
....Orange Juice of course.
Ok. But why?
....Because that's what's inside.

Then he goes on to add that many of us act unfavorably to Life as it unfolds. When we are challenged, or when we don't get exactly what we want, or when we are uncertain - how do we react? A lot of us become anxious, or terrified of moving forward. Some of us get angry and lash out at the people we love. Others withdraw and go into darkness and isolation and deep negative thoughts or cycles of depression based on how we think we simply aren't good enough or are somehow flawed and deserving of suffering...blah blah blah.
Ok. But why?
....Because that's what's inside.

This just hit me like a truckload of oranges!

Like the orange, when we are squeezed by Life, what comes out ultimately is what we are carrying around within us. Ultimately it's not really about what people have done TO us that is the problem. It's how we choose to perceive it based on what we are carrying and cultivating within. So when we are presented with disrespect or someone attacks us with anger or judgement, we take a moment to see clearly where it's coming from. Maybe, just maybe, instead of using these things to feed our inner insecurities we see them for what they are - other people's pain. Other people's suffering, bubbling out of them. Because, that, is what's inside.

When you speak your truth and someone responds by skwelching your dreams or worse, getting angry at you and reacting by trying to tear you down or hurt you.....stop and remember.....that's what's inside (of them). Our job is to be honest with ourselves first and then act with integrity to those around us when expressing our needs/desires. When this gets met by someone else's hurtful reaction - it's not about you. It's simply what's inside...of them.

So it makes sense then, to diligently work at cultivating our own inner steadiness. Inner peace and vitality that becomes the makeup of our inner landscape. So when the sh*t hits the fan we can respond with love. With patience. With gazing at others through eyes of compassion instead of angry reactivity. No matter what others say or do - we are unaffected because at the core of ourselves we are Love. Peace. We have cultivated an inner landscape that is so filled with light, appreciation and deep awareness, that there simply doesn't exist anything that could be affected by any amount of drama or bullsh*t that anyone could throw at us.

Sounds so simple right? But Damn! It's hard! Hard work some days!!!

But this, my friends, is The Work.
And *sigh* some of us teach what we most need to learn! ;)

Simple...but not easy.
I guess that's why they call it a "practice".

So - when you're squeezed - what's inside??