As I'm re-reading "The Four Agreements ~ A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom", I got to the "it's not personal" section and he said (paraphrasing) how people impose their own world on yours. What I see is, people impose their "wants" and/or "needs" on others.

For instance, they may ask you a question about yourself. If you answer incorrectly, in their eyes, then you've lost something in their eyes. They WANT you to be the way they imagine you to be and if you're not, then you're not fulfilling how they WANT you to be in order to be "right".

They may be very religious and, perceiving you to be so because it seems you've got a great connection, and you say, no, I'm an atheist or I'm agnostic, or I'm not Christian, then, you've become smaller to them and possibly, even invisible.

If they perceive you to be ANY certain way and find out you're not, they become disillusioned, not realizing it's THEIR perception that is inaccurate, not you!

I've experienced myself with someone saying "... that's why I like you" when I've responded to a certain question; then they go one with what THEY understood me to say and it's not at all what I said.... OR, it IS what I've said and I feel I have to stay that way or, keep doing whatever it is, so they'll continue to like me ~ which can be very tiring because someone I may like, may not like me unless I do what THEY like! Can you see the debilitating cycle?

The best thing I've found (and, continue to find) is to be as honest as I can with me first ("be impeccable with my word"), then, if someone likes who I am, what I do, what I say (and, how I say it)... we'll connect. If they don't like all the above, then we wont.

Enough for now ~

Revvell

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Revvell

 

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I've also found that to be true....People Imposing Their Wants...
written by ProphetessPaulaASanford , June 23, 2010

As a Full Gospel, Christian Evangelist, I've met many people, like you've described above Revvell. Many people, including the people in churches, are very guilty of such.

In my opinion, we are all individuals and unique in our own perspective rights, uniqueness & even finger prints/DNA and I therefore, appreciate & learn from the individual's uniqueness, rather than attempt to make everyone, as I'd like to see them. Therefore, making my life, very interesting and balanced. Those who don't care for my style or concepts, do very well, to express it and keep moving, for I will continue to stay free...I think it's an amazing thing, to simply be ME...and everyone else themselves....May we all be set free, by such a divine revelation....
thank you for posting that comment Revvell.

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Thank you Paula!
written by Revvell , June 23, 2010

Yes, I've found very similar in a church I went to. I was basically left out of a conversation about "dressing for church" because I wasn't wearing my "Sunday Go-To-Church" clothing which I basically don't own and at the time rode a motorcycle everywhere so that type of clothing would have been inappropriate for riding.

I agree. We are all unique with our differing backgrounds, learnings, growth, etc. and it's fun to actually learn who people are and how they got to be that way.

I think it's amazing to be you too! ... and to be free to be we!

Thank you for your comments.

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