The wisdom of Anais Nin keeps tossing itself into my line of vision these days without my soliciting it.
“Respect for the vulnerability of human beings is a necessary part of telling the truth, because no truth will be wrested from a callous vision or callous handling.” — Anais Nin
How do we provide access to the truth in a given situation? How do we do that simply and with grace without alienating those who don’t want to hear it, but need to in order for things to progress? As it turns out, some folks just don’t want to hear the truth. They possess a sort of diplomatic immunity from being held accountable and sit with arms crossed, legs crossed and chin high. And their poses hum the tune of insecurity and over-compensation for vulnerability. It’s quite a tangle, working through the layers, discovering “who’s most vulnerable here?”. And asking “how do I respect every person involved when so much opposition exists in one room?” Sometimes you can only respect your truth as you gently and respectfully own it for others to hear and witness, consequences come what may.
I’m amazed when someone has volunteered their involvement or their time and then assume because they have done so, they are not to be called out even if they’ve stomped on another in their line of charitable work. This is what brings to mind a twisted daily reality of “diplomatic immunity.” Their generosity or help becomes a sort of embassy in their minds where they take refuge against accountability in the land of heartful relating. “But…all these hours, all this work!” Right, but you smashed someone. Why?
Some folks will run howling from the room if you simply say “This really hurt.” because they’ve never been asked to see beyond their own sphere. Or they’ve been trying so hard to prevent any disasters, they’ve forgotten their attempts may create disaster. Fear-based actions tend to do that after a while. And so this business of deciding what is “callous” in a situation can appear to be subjective. But it’s safe to say a callous vision is one that doesn’t regard the needs, concerns or desires of another. And there are vital pre-requisites to being able to even regard the needs, concerns or desires of another. One must first know oneself, one’s motivations, needs, desires, strengths, weaknesses and beauty.
It eventually boils down to this main question: Who, in this room of opposing views, am I most responsible for, besides myself? What loyalties, relationships, kindred souls in agreement with furthering a vision are at play in this situation and is the truth something that must take a back seat to these other influences or is it too important to suppress? Sometimes you have to storm the gates because there are so many gates around so many insecure sequestered “embassies” of fear any movement would be exactly that, a storm of collisions swirling. The clarity wrought by a truth storm can literally change and shape lives. How we express vital truths and with what words we choose, these dynamics also need our diligent regard. I love the way the following quote speaks to the power we all possess…
“Equally, we may cast the spells of appreciation, gratitude and love – with every breath and word we utter, poetically.” Jim Fry
It’s something to aim for, anyway. We are vastly more empowered than the world of fear wants us to recognize. And it begins with a commitment to growthful, loving being.
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