A Simple Concept that Leads to Incredible Freedom - Are You Ready to Unleash Your Power Today?

Last night my husband and I were taking a walk in a neighborhood just outside of Philadelphia.  We were having enjoyable conversation as we strolled together.  I was looking at David while he was sharing a story with me.  Then, out of the blue, an African-American woman riding her bicycle came toward us.  She lifted one hand from the handle bar and gave us a big Thumbs Down sign and shouted at us with an angry energy:  "Learn From History!"

We were both caught off guard and a bit stunned.  "Was that meant for us? " I asked David.

It took us awhile to wrap our heads around what had just happened.  The conclusion we reached was that it seemed she did not like that a white woman and a black man were out on a date, taking a walk together.

 You can see from these pictures here that David and I aren't the same race.  We look different.  I'm a white American of German and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.  David is a Nigerian with dark skin.

What brought David and I together when we first met was that our hearts and our value were a match.  Skin color wasn't really a qualifying factor for either of us when we decided to date, marry and share our lives together.  We have come to enjoy the diversity and differences between one another.  And, we have created 3 gorgeous mixed race daughters through our unique combination of races.

We didn't get offended by the words.  We weren't upset by the surprise "attack."  We spent time musing in compassion at what must have been going inside this woman.  Why did she hurl a massive wave of negative, judgment and anger toward strangers who were simply trying to take in a peaceful moment of connection?

What she said had nothing to do with us.  What she said only had something to do with what was going on INSIDE her.  It was her belief system, judgment and pain that caused her to shout at us.

Announcement!  Exciting NEWS.  ESSENTIAL REALIZATION:

When we begin to understand that what other people say and do has nothing to do with us, we gain a tremendous amount of energy and freedom! Nothing is ever personal.  All any of us are doing at any moment of the day is projecting our inner world onto the world around us.  

More than ten years ago I came across this concept in a simple but profound book, The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz.  Agreement # 2 in his book is:  Don't take anything personally.  Too often we feel vulnerable and get easily shaken by the words and actions of others.  We have been taught to allow what others say and do to have an impact on us.  

However, when we begin to wake up we see a MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY to reclaim our energy and personal power:  Nothing others say or do is about us.   It's just what's inside of them.

Imagine if you took this realization into the workplace today?  How might you save precious time and vital life-energy if you stopped taking personally what your boss or co-workers say and do?

Imagine if you took this awareness into your friendships.  How might the drama in your life lessen if you truly understood that what your friends say and do ain't personal to you?

Imagine if you took this insight into your marriage.  Would you be less affected by the mood, criticism and emotions of your spouse?  

We do not have to take on nor own the energy and pain of others.  We always have a choice of what we allow in to our own energy field.

Last night, David and I could have allowed that woman's pain to infiltrate our time together.  We didn't.  We experienced that moment, processed it for our own growth and then moved on and had some fun together.  We did take a beautiful awareness away from the interaction and we feel grateful to that woman for being who she is.  We prayed for her and only wished her awakening and relief from any inner pain she may be in due to racial matters.  She gave us the gift of this profound reminder:  NOTHING IS PERSONAL.  She gave me this amazing story and great insight to share with all of you today through this blog.

For those of us ready to gain inner peace and increase our personal power, agreement # 2 is revolutionary.  How might each of us apply it to our lives today?

Watch for opportunities...plenty of them exist.

Choosing not to take anything personal today,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
www.patriciaomoqui.com