Our Own Actions

Transcript

Welcome, beautiful thinkers. I was just thinking about your own actions, our own actions, my own actions. Sometimes, I noticed that maybe I’ve been kind to a person, trying to be kind to everybody trying to be exceptionally kind. And some people appreciate that.

Sometimes I think about the times when people don’t appreciate it.

And it seems like maybe if I make one mistake, I slip up once or catch someone in the wrong position, then suddenly turn cold and treat me as if I was never their friend. I don’t know why this happens, exactly.

And of course, it hurts, it feels uncomfortable.

It’s like this knot in my stomach, this rising, bubbling discomfort within me. I was laying awake thinking about this the other night.

And I said, people can treat me however they want. My freedom is how I will choose to act is literally true. People can choose me, people can treat me however they want.

It seems almost a little negative to say that. But actually on another level, it’s extremely liberating. Because I don’t have to account for their actions. Not exactly.

I don’t have to second guess, or overthink, trying to figure out exactly why they did something. I can if I want to, I can try to consider their motives, and try to deepen my understanding. But I don’t have to.

I didn’t look at my behavior and trying to figure out if I did something wrong. But if I do my best, that’s enough. Even though somebody’s actions seem extremely cold to me, I only know my side of the story. And in their minds, it’s likely that they have a story that makes complete sense that explains their actions perfectly.

I may never know what that story is.

But as long as I try my best, as long as I take the actions, that I can.

Just like they say in the Buddhist tradition, we have this three tool: our thoughts and feelings, our speech, and our action. Those are the only things that we can use to improve our lives, or to seek enlightenment, or to to move along our spiritual path.

Other people’s actions, other people can do whatever they want. They can treat me however they want. And that doesn’t mean that I need to stop being good or striving or putting in the effort to be as good as I can be.

My freedom comes through my own actions.