Last night I read a meditation from the book, Your True Home, by Thich Nhat Hanh.  The book is a small, everyday read, relating to Buddhism.  Although I am not a practicing Buddhist, I enjoy reading books about the religion.

The meditation focused on how to become a positive influence on others.  It discussed the importance of healing childhood pain.

Here is an except from the meditation, titled Begin Immediately.

What I recommend for all of us is to come back to ourselves and take care of the little boy or little girl who inhabits the depths of our wounded souls.  Then we will be calmer, more understanding and loving, and the environment will begin to change.  Other people will benefit from our presence, and we will be able to influence them and our society.

The meditation relates to a conversation I had yesterday.  I was talking to a friend about my childhood.  I discussed my parent’s divorce and the impact it had on me.  As I spoke to my friend, I realized my attitude toward my childhood situation had changed.

One of the reasons for the change is because I have made a more conscious effort to ‘heal’ the child who was wounded by the divorce.   Divorce can impact a child.  Some are more negatively affected than others.

The most painful part of my parent’s divorce for me was rejection.  Although, no one personally rejected me, I grew up feeling inferior.  Most of my adult pain has been a result of seeking approval of others.

Years ago, I felt personally rejected by someone.  I could not deal with the issue.  The person was not a close friend or relative.  It was merely an acquaintance.  I began to wonder why I was so concerned about someone’s acceptance of me.   Especially since, it was someone I did not admire or know well.

I had not healed from my childhood.  The little girl inside me was still needed the approval of her parents.

After this experience, I began transforming my thinking.  It was difficult.  Convincing myself I was worthy, no matter what the circumstances, was not easy.  I looked back at the little girl I was and realized she had done nothing to deserve rejection.  The harder I looked, the more I realized  my parents had never really rejected me.   They simply were dealing with their own issues.

As I released my pain and fear something happened.  I became happier.  I became more confident.  I started to take risks, even though it meant some people would not like me.  I became more positive and less judgemental.

Last night’s meditation reminded me, no one can go forth and make the world a better place unless they are at peace with themselves.  If we want to be a positive influence on people, we must be healed first.

Forward I move.  Healing each step of the way.

Related articles

• Peace is Every Step – Thich Nhat Hanh (booklolly.wordpress.com)
• Thich Nhat Hanh: Connect With and Love Mother Earth to Heal the Planet (commondreams.org)