A stranger observing three young children "being kids" may be very critical of their behavior, and see only a negative fraction of their humanity. Their (healthy) mother sees the same activity, but apprehends them in their full human complexity - because those kids are part of her reality, and because they're literally part of her. She accepts them completely, unconditionally.
Oddly enough, it seems to require generosity and even love, not just intellect, to fully see the situation at hand.
Each perception first
passes through our brainstem (primitive “reptilian” part
of the brain) where it is “judged” as good, bad, or indifferent to our
survival. Then, a fraction of a second later, perception reaches
conscious awareness ALREADY JUDGED: “I
like”, “I don’t like”, or “boring”.
Acceptance is about becoming aware of these biological and psychological boundaries or walls we've built between reality and ourselves. Acceptance requires bravery to gradually allow these outmoded protective barriers to come down.
Eventually, the stranger may realize that those kids are part of his reality too - and then see them as if for the first time.
Eventually, the stranger may realize that those kids are part of his reality too - and then see them as if for the first time.
No comments:
Post a Comment