it starts and ends
with owning yourself
your feelings, your experience
no one makes you mad
no one makes you happy
your thoughts lead to your feelings
conscious, acknowledged, or not
change your thinking and
you change your feelings
let your feelings tell you
there’s something to accept
something to understand
something to respond to
rationally, effectively
don’t get in them
don’t chase the rabbits
find the attachment
and sever it, let it go
pour into each other
from your own supply
without attachment
to their supply
of attention or validation
“When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.”
— Alan Cohen
vulnerability requires
immense strength
because you must
lower your walls
and accept reality
without attachment
to anyone’s
approval or acceptance
validation or continued
presence in your life
“Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful. You’ll be too preoccupied with what so-and-so is doing, and why, and what they’re saying, and what they’re thinking, and what they’re up to, and all the other things that throw you off and keep you from focusing on your own mind.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations”—
