ENcourage Connection

The other day I was dealing with *something* that was irritating me, which I *allowed* myself to look at this situation through judgmental eyes : (

Before I went to sleep that night, this came to me, and I thought I would share it with you.
I'll even go as far as to give it a title.

(((( The Rubber Band Stretch/Snap ))))

(Accepting our own stretch, and knowing our limits, without comparison to others.)

Have you ever been around people who seem to fall to pieces over the smallest of things, where others seen to have the world of heartache loaded upon their shoulders and yet they continue to stand?

Some may fall to pieces if they don't have their daily routine followed to the letter, where others feel lucky just to be able to place their feet on the floor to start their day. I was quick to label based on my life experiences, stamina and tolerance.

Of course there are many reasons as to why one person's situation is a complete mental blowout to them, but yet to another that same situation it's almost trifle.

In an abstract way of comparison, our emotional *stretch* with one another is similar to a rubber band. The size of the rubber band may vary from the tiny elastics that you see used in holding the breaded hair of the tiny cornrows, to the massive bands used in production machinery. The stretch between the two could be compared, but would seem rather ridiculous. I certainly couldn't expect the large elastic band to hold the tiny bits of hair, nor could I expect the tiny elastic to be used in heavy duty projects.

The one thing that both, large or small can do, is to stretch. Once resistance is placed on the rubber band it does stretch, and when the resistance is removed, it then returns back to its regular size. The interesting thing about the stretch is that eventually the rubber band begins to lose the tight hold, that originally it had. It changes in its limits. It relaxes... Maybe this relaxed state is not something that the rubber band can willingly do on its own, any more that it can cause its self to stretch. But one thing for certain, whether large or small, thick or thin, long or short... all rubber bands have their breaking point.

I elect to see this breaking as *freedom*, and not a misfortune. I elect to see it as "breaking down boundaries", because unlike the rubber band we (at times) do have the ability to stretch our self under our own control. The purposeful stretching is our own willingness to reach beyond our comfortable, original metal safety boundaries. When the breaking does occur it is far less of a snap if the elastic has been challenged over and over again and the elastic has relaxed.

We all seek mental freedom no matter our mental endurance. And if I look at others, strangers, or friends, it doesn't matter, and I think to myself, "Just like me that person wants happiness and peace in their life, just like me." It somehow stops the comparison, and opens my heart to compassion.

So, my thought for the day. Let the stretch begin.
Open your heart to the knowledge that we are all seeking the same deep goal in life.
And to *RELAX* to who you are right now today.
It's all good.

Love,
Debbie

• Great analogy. Thank you for posting! (n/t) 05:53:38 07/22/2009 Kate_1 (1)
  • Seriously loved the little elastic vs industrial elastic image for my brain. Cool. (n/t) 05:55:52 07/22/2009 Kate_1 (0)
• That's cool, Debbie :) (n/t) 20:58:05 07/21/2009 Why (0)
• Great metaphor! Thanks! 19:40:35 07/21/2009 Pat at ENcourage (0)

In Reply to: It's the (21st) of the month. My Day to Share with the Group.........(m) posted by Debbie IN California on July 21, 2009 at 08:18:49:

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In Reply to: Great analogy. Thank you for posting! (n/t) posted by Kate_1 on July 22, 2009 at 05:53:38:

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In Reply to: It's the (21st) of the month. My Day to Share with the Group.........(m) posted by Debbie IN California on July 21, 2009 at 08:18:49:

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In Reply to: It's the (21st) of the month. My Day to Share with the Group.........(m) posted by Debbie IN California on July 21, 2009 at 08:18:49:

Someone once said to me, "No one really knows the mind and heart of another." It really hit me that I had been doing a lot of judging. Stretching and seeing others with compassion makes sense for everybody.

I appreciate that you added to our board!

L,
P