The Journey Inward

For the month of June, I am flipping through Clarity and Connection, by Yung Pueblo daily and randomly stopping at a page and reading. I am using the entry to delve into my thoughts and feelings, find what resonates, and see what answers it might hold for me. It is an exercise in building my Intuition, making space for creativity, and journeying inward so that I might know myself and others better. Today’s reading was on page 105.

“throw away the idea that you need to find a perfect partner or a flawless friend.”

Well, that’s a relief! Not expecting perfection from others means that I have permission to show up with all my flaws and quirks and inconsistencies, as well. I get to let my imperfections show and trust that I will still be accepted for who I am. How liberating and freeing to have relationships where each person gets to be themselves, showing up as they are on any given day in any given moment. That’s authenticity, in Self and in Relationship. It necessitates that I Let Go…let go of controlling who they are and let go of controlling how they perceive me. This has been a way of life for me until the last decade or so. It’s so nice to remove that burden from my shoulders and release the expectations of Self and Others.

“what is possible is connecting with someone who is doing their own inner work.”

I love this notion because when you are in relationship with someone on their own journey, you give one another space to grow, heal, learn, share, be authentic and become who you are meant to be. You each continue down your path, merging in some places, bearing witness in others, moving apart at times. It is an honor and pleasure to go through life with people who enhance, inspire, encourage and challenge us.

In healthy relationships, we are not rescuing or being rescued. We are not controlling or being silenced. We are loving with detachment, allowing people to work through their own stuff at their own pace and in their own way. We are setting boundaries for our own protection, defining what we will and won’t accept, and using the information we get when we let people be themselves to make decisions that are in our best interest.

The best relationships are when we show up and allow others to show up, as we are, warts and all.