Robert Louis Stevenson
I often struggle with my relationship with others. This might be relationships within my family, those I consider to be friends of mine, and then those that are acquaintances.
There are many times I find myself thinking too deeply about what others think of me and whether I am truly being accepted by them. Then there are times when I am so focused on trying to prove myself to others that I get lost. This lost is me not thinking about how I feel, what is best for me and not getting all caught up in other's feelings.
The thing about wanting to be accepted and understood is this is not always possible. There are people that are put in our lives for a reason. All the reasons they are put in your life is a good reason. Each person is teaching a lesson to you about how you view yourself and how you feel about yourself.
I find the ones that are critical of me without empathy and insist on placing their beliefs onto me are those that are uncomfortable with whatever the situation might be.
I have to realize that this discomfort is NOT my issue, not my problem. When discussions become heated and I too often find myself trying to make someone else understand why I do what I do, or how I feel about something, especially when they are in disagreement.
The truth is, this is THEIR shit to deal with, not mine.
I am not in control of others, whether it is the choices they make, or how they feel about me. I can only be in control of myself and how I deal with whatever that situation might be.
If I am working towards inner-peace and self-acceptance, this cannot come from anyone else other than myself.
The same goes for how I deal with others and their situations and/or actions.
My well-being is worth more than someone's feelings about me.
