Outside events can create obstacles and cause pain. But suffering and misery are our own creation. And so is our state of happiness and bliss. Outside situations only provide a trigger to express what’s already inside us. For example, whenever you squeeze a lemon, you get only lemon juice, never apple juice, irrespective of the kind of outside pressure.
And it is the same with us.
When our inner state is calm and balanced, we live in the present moment and act from our natural state of bliss. Our response is then born out of our awareness – intelligent and balanced.
Hence in any stressful situation, always look inwards before giving an outward response.
Are you calm and balanced at this moment? Is your response in tandem with who think you are?
If yes, then go forthright and express it. But if there is even the slightest doubt, wait.
Give yourself time to reclaim your true self. Then with this mindful awareness of self, contemplate over the situation and you will notice that the right response will arise within you.
Remember your response is completely your responsibility. No one else is responsible. And your response will set into motion another chain of events and consequences. Hence always be mindful of your response.
Once you take complete responsibility for self, including your emotions, outside events lose their power to affect you. And once you reclaim this inner power, real change begins to happen around you and within you. That is when true empowerment begins.