In enlightenment discussions, the following concept is used to help us consider how we treat/talk to ourselves:

We talk to our best friends with loving voices.  We would never (or at least, VERY rarely) talk to them in consistently harsh, critical overtones.

Similarly, if somebody on the street walked up to us and started berating us, we’d likely get in their face and stand up for ourselves . . . “Don’t talk to me like that!!!”

The question is, why do we talk to ourselves like this?  Why do we treat ourselves so poorly?

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Now, on the flip side, there are times when we’re talking to/referencing others — a stranger on the subway; a passerby on the street; someone on the internet with a ‘different’ point of view; a politician that we don’t understand — and we do it critically . . . harshly.

We ‘forget’ that we’re human too — that we make mistakes.  We forget to display compassion.

Here’s a question:

Can you picture that person as a little child?  Like, say, your 4 year old daughter . . . or your 2 year old son?

Can you see the innocence in them?  The dreams that they have?  The un-knowingness, interlaced with innate wisdom that all children seem to have?

Underlying their moments of mischief, can you see the inherent goodness, love and peace that resides in their soul?  Can you see how they just want to be loved . . . and FEEL how good they’ll feel/how well they’ll respond when they receive it?

Can you see it?

Can you feel it?

Yes?

Well then . . .

SEE this inner child in YOU.

Look for this inner child in EVERY person with whom you interact today . . . tomorrow . . . next week . . . next month . . .

Look for this beautiful child – even in moments of hardship and difficulty . . . when the easiest thing to do is simply REACT (fearfully/harshly)to what’s in front of you.

Recognize the innocence in others.  Remind yourself of how you’d treat them/talk to them as if they were still good, loving, wide-eyed, innocent children — looking to you for guidance . . . looking to you with hope, and filled with “fantasy-like” dreams.

Treat yourself with the CARE that you give to your closest friends.

Stand up for yourself as you would if somebody harshly attacked you.

Love others (even those that don’t “deserve” it) and talk to them, as you would that beautiful, innocent child.

That’s how your dreams will come true.

That’s how you’ll feel fulfilled.

That’s how we as a community will thrive round-the-world (even amongst ‘real-life harshness’).

That’s how we create our own HEAVEN ON EARTH.