Contrast not Judgment

My sister has a very different world view than I do.  That should not make us dislike each other any more than having a different hair color should make me dislike someone.  On the contrary, contrast is what this earthly experience is all about.  The contrast can help deepen my sense of self and other awareness.  The contrast is what makes a work of art beautiful.  

Recognizing the power of contrast is the beginning of sovereign choice. 

What I mean by this is literal.  When I judge, my emotions create a charge that affects both my perception and my action.  I lose the chance to see things objectively.   I start reacting to those charged beliefs.

However, when I observe the world as being in a natural state of contrast, rather than judge it, I free myself of the emotional weight and entanglement. When I move into the position of objective observer I can recognize the contrast as a polarity within this consciousness matrix.  I can embrace it as a part of the whole. 

Certainly this observer, detached perspective has power, still, I don’t want to denounce the power of the will and a forceful No when the situation calls for it.  But, for the most part our emotional pushing against things that we don't like, only creates more entanglement, and less freedom.  The pushing binds us to what we don’t want.  

Here is an exercise I have used to help move out of the judgment and despair of seeing what I apparently do not agree within my current experience.  

Notice, Name, Honor.

You can do this in the moment, or you can do this when you can sit and reflect on an experience you are going through.  Simply sit with the memory.  

Notice the emotions.  Where in the body do you feel the contraction, tension or discomfort?  Breathe into that spot.

Name what is the contrasting teaching you?  Name the feelings.  Name the beliefs being challenged.  Continue to notice anything coming up and changing in your body.

Honor the feelings as real.  Honor your beliefs and your desires as real.  Now honor the other person on their path.  Send love from your heart to theirs.  Opening the heart is the greatest way to evolve spiritually.  The Way of the Heart is the Way of Remembrance.