One of the most beautiful things about belonging to our Circle’s Edge spiritual community is that we are a welcoming and inclusive group.   Our teaching guides us in this concept and provides tools for us to understand and experience it in our own lives.

As much as we believe this concept intellectually and strive to practice it, there are times when our sub-conscious programming challenges our ability to act in a welcoming and inclusive way.  An old idea based in some past experience or belief jumps up into our minds and sees something in someone else that we cannot accept or tolerate.  The result is discomfort for us, and a desire to “make” this individual change or stop doing what they are doing.

Gerald Jampolsky in his book Love is Letting Go of Fear states;

“Peace of mind comes not from wanting to change others, but by simply accepting them as they are.  True acceptance is always without demands and expectations.”

If we can accept everyone just as they are, we will indeed find peace of mind.  Yet there is always the intellectual part of us rearing its head and finding all sorts of reasons why this is not easy or practical.  And so then we can look at something that Eckhard Tolle said;  “Accept- then act.  Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.  Always work with it, not against it.  Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy.  This will miraculously transform your life.”

As we make friends with the discomfort in the moment we also find a pathway toward greater insight into our own healing.  Our willingness to take this approach is one of the most enlightened things we can do.  I celebrate our spiritual community for this intention and the actions that are taken.  What a blessing.