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4-Beyond Right and Wrong

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
-Rumi, Sufi poet

When we name things as right or wrong, we leave no room for a meeting of the hearts.  When I find myself in disagreement with someone, I can get into a place of fierce self-righteousness. Instead of focusing on ways I can connect with the other person through common ground, I focus only on what makes sense to me and on trying to convince the other person to see things my way.

This leaves neither room for self-growth, nor room for a heart-to-heart connection. When, instead of being self-righteous, I am able to focus on what is important to the other person, I find I can not only better understand the other person’s perspective, but can find that there is ground on which we can connect.

Reflect on instances in which you have been in disagreement with someone from work, home, wherever.  Did you approach the disagreement with a need to be right or with a desire to better understand the other person? What would happen if you allowed yourself to let go of the need to be right?

Take five minutes to quiet your mind and look inside. What does your inner wisdom want to tell you about the need to be right?