Relationships Perceptions

Relationships. The most challenging area of our lives seems to be in this complicated, exciting and sometimes painful arena. When any relationship turns sour, often the first thing we want to do is to become actively engaged participants in “the blame game.”

What if instead, we resisted that game? What if we looked at our relationships as reflections of how we perceive our relationship with the universe? (Notice I didn’t say, “as a reflection of our relationship with the universe”, but rather, as our perception of that relationship.) What if every difficult tête-à-tête with a loved one or coworker was just a mirror of what we think the universe “thinks” of us? Here are a couple of examples:

Sharon perceives herself as a minuscule drop in the cosmos, powerless and stripped of a meaningful role. She believes that the God she was raised to believe in is too big, powerful and busy for her and is basically left to fend for her own. As a result, her manager, who she rebels against in passive aggressive ways, always seems too busy for her and doesn’t acknowledge her accomplishments. She also attracts coworkers who act bigger and more powerful than her and finds herself in almost constant conflict.

Curt sees himself as a victim; his life is filled with unfortunate mishaps. Though he believes in a God and tries to enrich his spirituality by attending church and volunteering, he perceives his relationship with God as one-sided. To Curt, God is “unavailable”. As a result, his personal relationships are riddled with people who do not reciprocate, communicate or commit – and leave him feeling “less than”.

If all success begins at the source, then do we stand a chance at having more joyful encounters if we create a good relationship with the universe? When we do that, when we start listening, cooperating and paying attention to that relationship, (often letting go of what we “think” we know), then communication channels open up. Then your relationships either fall away because they no longer fit who you are or they will change for the better to support you!

 

What is your perception of your relationship with the universe?