Journalution: Journal Writing to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life, and Manifest Your Dreams by Sandy Grason

Author:Sandy Grason [Grason, Sandy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Non-Fiction
Publisher: New World Library
Published: 2010-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Relationships Are Mirrors

Every day, our relationships show us what we’re holding inside and who we are at our best and our worst. Sometimes these are things we’d rather not see. Certain people come into our lives — family, friends, bosses, and neighbors — who have a way of bringing up our issues.

You know the feeling: You’re going blissfully through your day, humming a happy tune, and then someone shows up at your doorstep or calls you on the phone and, with one little remark or a glance in your direction, this person whips you into a frenzy. Afterward, your overanalyzing mind kicks in and you find yourself going over every detail of the interaction and getting angry, scared, or insecure.

Whatever emotion comes up, it is strong; it feels uncontrollable and instinctual. Most of the time, these reactions point to parts of ourselves that we have yet to accept. For example, when Aunt Edna suggests we skip that extra piece of cheesecake, why do we feel so defensive? Perhaps she is there to reflect our own shortage of self-love and acceptance; she is shining a light on a feeling of inadequacy or self-judgment that we are burying deep inside. We choose teachers like Aunt Edna because they are exactly what we need to stretch us past our self-imposed limitations. They act as mirrors, reflecting something within ourselves that we have yet to come to terms with. These encounters are arranged by the universe, and they almost always present an opportunity for growth.

Can you think of a person who acts as a mirror in your life? Once you’ve picked a person or a situation, it’s usually easy to figure out what this mirror is there to teach you. You only have to step away from the emotions long enough to view the relationship from a different perspective. Your journal is the perfect place to gain this perspective.

I’ve had many teachers in my life, but none as influential as my two daughters. Just when I was beginning to feel like I had a few things figured out about my life and my identity, these two little people came along to test me twenty-four hours a day. They ensure that I’m constantly grounded in who I am. Sometimes they reflect light and joy. Other times, chaos and madness come back to me.

For instance, as I write this chapter, my six- and seven-year-old daughters are both home from school with strep throat. Although I’ve barely worked this week, if I tell them I can’t lie in bed and watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, they know exactly what to say that will absolutely maximize my guilt. “You never play with us anymore. You care more about your book than us.” My personal favorite is, “Mom, all we ever hear about is journalution, journalution, journalution!” They are serving to mirror my guilty feelings about spending time focused on anything that isn’t directly related to them.

Balancing our needs against the needs of others is a common dilemma.

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