“If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.” ~ Pema Chodron
I was with a group of caring yoga teachers yesterday, and we shared experiences of who showed up in our classes. There was one student who always gave an unsolicited evaluation of how the class went and what the teacher could do differently. An other student would send long emails about a substitute teacher, pointing out where she was not as good as the original one. An other student made comments in class about how uncomfortable she was.
Then there were the students who were grateful for the teacher’s guidance and came back class after class.
I awoke this morning with this thought. People show up for different reasons, yet they are all our teachers.
Should we dismiss the challenging ones as external disturbances, taking us off balance? Or perhaps, as people who have things going on that they need to address?
There’s an opportunity for deeper understanding here.
We attract the people who reflect our selves.
The wonderful thankful students, are reflecting the parts of ourselves that we appreciate and accept.
The people who disturb us, are reflecting the parts of ourselves that we have not fully accepted or integrated within ourselves. The parts of ourselves that we haven’t learn to love.
If we look as every person as a reflection of our selves and as our teachers, it becomes an opportunity to learn and grow.
Every person is bringing a gift for us to receive and to learn from.
If the same “gifts” keep showing up in your life, then there is something that is longing for your attention.
Take a moment to pause and breathe deeply
Allow the breath to become fuller
Imagine breathing into your heart
Allow this area to soften
Let your heart open and be ready to receive
To the teacher whose student wants to be in control of the class … What is the heartfelt lesson for you?
To the teacher with a student who criticizes and complains about not having things their own way… What could be the heartfelt lesson for you?
To all of us who have a spouse… colleague… child… neighbor… relative… showing up as “gifts” to learn from … What are the heartfelt lessons for us all?
Remember, its often what we don’t like, that we grow from the most. The practice is to keep our minds and our hearts open.
Namaste
Reblogged this on At the Table, On my Plate and commented:
Beautifully present…Namaste’
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Your post made me think about some people in my life that are hard to like. Perhaps I will do better.
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I hope so CC 💛
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❤
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💕
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Love this Val. I know mine is patience and letting go of the controls of how I thought my life might turn out. Have a great day.
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Thank you Kath. May we find it in our hearts to love the life that we find ourselves living 💕
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Reblogged this on IreneDesign2011 and commented:
Please read this thoughtful and heart warm post from Val, we can all learn here…
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Wow for a wonderful post Val, as we all can learn of. You are so much right, we need to remember to stop and look inside to find out.
Thank you for this reminder ❤
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Thanks so much Irene 💛may we all find time to stop and look inside for the wisdom that is there. xo
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Thank you for the excellent reminders, Val.
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Thank you Russ. Glad you appreciated it. 💛
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“We attract the people who reflect our selves.” This is so true…and why I follow you! Beautiful post, Val. ❤
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You are the mirror I aspire to Jill 💛
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❤
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this is one of my favorite posts of yours, ever. the message is so true.
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Thank you Beth! So glad it resonated with you 💕
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A lovely breath of fresh air read today thank you…… Love Up and Down the Rabbit Hole xx https://goo.gl/irazWM
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Thanks so much Rabbit. Glad you enjoyed this 💛
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Wise words. I take note of anyone who challenges me. They always reveal another layer to recognise and heal. 🙏🏻
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Beautifully put Karen … “an other layer to recognize and heal” 💕
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Hi Val, great post. There’s a touch of ‘birds of a feather’ about it; and we definitely learn from spreading our wings and letting what can seem like ‘others’ enter our worlds and consciousnesses.
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A lovely reflection Jean, that adds an other dimension to the discovery here. Thank you 💛
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My pleasure, Val.
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I read somewhere (or other) that its the people who we find difficult or unlovable that need our care and love the most.
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I read that too Vicki. We are taught to be kind and find compassion for others who are struggling. For me, I found I was giving love and compassion to everyone else … but was still unhappy, and those “gifted” people were still a part of my life.
It was only when I gave myself the love and compassion … as a similarly flawed human being … rather than being the “good” one, that they stopped showing up. The lesson was learned. 💕
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I LOVE the gift of this post, Val.
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Thank you Ann. 💕
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I love this post, Val. So many times we become annoyed by how someone treats us, and you are so correct! We need to look at these instances and see what it is that WE need to learn. If every person could do this, have this kind of open heart, I would venture to guess it wouldn’t take long before we were never bothered!
Sending love and light ♡
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Thank you for sharing your insight Lorrie. I agree …. the world would be different if we all looked inwards with love and acceptance. 🙏💕
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Such a perfect message about how we relate to others, and a reflection of that which we accept or reject in ourselves. It took me a while to understand why the same certain kind of folks disturbed me so much. Once I “fixed” my own issues, they had no place in my life. Excellent post, Val. ❤️ 💛 💙 💜
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For me too Van. It does take a while for us to question the ego-mind and listen more deeply for the lessons. Thank you my friend 💕
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Part of the soul agreement – lessons come in all forms. 🙂
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They do indeed Eliza. May we be open to see them ❤️
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So true, so very true!
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That means a lot coming from you Sunny. Thank you 💕
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Thank you for your wonderful thoughts.
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Interesting and thoughtful post Val. I must learn to reflect more and read the messages I hear with an open heart. 🙂
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I love your intention Marje 💛 Thank you for sharing here. xo
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🙂
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A powerful and deeply perceptive article, dear Val, for which many thanks. Would we but know that at some level we’re acting as mirrors to each other. Best to keep one’s surface clean, eh? 😉 And the other bits too, of course! Do mirrors have ‘other bits’?
H ❤
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I belief mirrors have smudges but am not sure about other bits H 😉 Here’s to regular window and lens cleaning.
Thank you for your kindness 💕
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This is a cool post, Val. I think in addition to seeing everyone as gifting us with lessons and opportunities to reflect, it’s also important to remember that everything someone says isn’t necessarily a commentary on us; they are also expressing whatever it is that’s going on with them. The ability to view others as fellow life travelers with openness and compassion covers both bases.
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So true Diana. Mirrors work both ways. Thank you for sharing this deeper perception 💛
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Wonderful advice, Val ❤ When we accept what is, we can also see the lessons.
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Thank you Helen. So glad it resonated with you 💛
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Hmm, my first thought was that I’ve never complained in a yoga class – each one, as different as they may be – add something wonderful to my life. But then I read on and you caught me. I most love those who love me and accept me for what/who I am. But you’re right, the one in my life who person who is so difficult, there must be a lesson there for me. I’ve done my best to stay away from her, but perhaps I need to be nearer, to figure out the lesson…
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Be close with an open heart and ask yourself quietly. The answer will come when it is ready to be found. 💕
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I’m working on it!! xo
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Thank you for sharing your inspiring thoughts dear Val.. You are right.. Teachers show up in many guises.. Often the lessons learned are not always from those whom you would class as teachers..
Sometimes even our enemies can be our greatest teachers.. ❤
Love and Blessings Val. xxx
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Thanks Sue! I have found that the most challenging people have the potent lessons. I still have difficulty with arrogant people … and have to forgive myself for this trait❣️
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I realized this a while ago and so far so good, I’ve been able to practice it on a daily basis and I’m having comfortable easy relations with people with characteristics and certain paths that I would most probably end up despising on the long run. My “awakening” taught me about judgement. I’m not what you’d consider a Judgmental person and in fact I quite dislike it but I have reached a point of “not my circus, not my monkeys” sort of pedestal that I can hang out, work and learn from judgmental people. I allow them to be who they are, to react genuinely. I understand their Egos. And if I know it, shouldn’t I be the one with the higher duty of Respecting and not use it to fight my own Demons as well? Yes, this is the way. Respect. People forget what you tell them but they never forget how you made them feel. And one feeling Respected… is an enchantment you’ll never forget.
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Thank you for sharing your own story and insights Vv. 💕
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Great post
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Thank you 🙏
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