The Difficult People In Your Life

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Oamenii dificili din viața noastra
Sally Kempton

Nu tot timpul intelegem de ce persoanele dificile apar in viata noastra. Dar, bineinteles, exista cateva teorii destul de bune despre asta. Din perspectiva unei abordari jungiene, alaturi de majoritatea invatatorilor spirituali contemporani, oamenii din viata noastra oglindesc ceea ce este in interiorul nostru si odata ce ne-am limpezit mintea si sufletul, nu o sa mai atragem prieteni nervoasi, colegi de munca irascibili sau sefi tiranici.

Apoi, exista teoria - nu neaparat in dezacord cu prima - ca viata este o scoala, iar oamenii dificili sunt invatatorii nostri. (Deci, cand cineva iti spune ca esti ca un profesor pentru el, poate ar fi o idee sa te intrebi ce anume i se pare dezagreabil la tine!). Totusi, un lucrur este clar: la un moment din viata, o sa avem pe cineva in jur care este foarte greu de suportat. Cateodata, pare ca si cum toti pe care ii cunoastem incearca sa ne creeze probleme.

Deci, una din intrebarile recurente pentru oricine doreste sa duca o viata cu adevarat spirituala, fara a se retrage intr-o pestera, este: cum ne comportam cu persoanele dificile fara a fi duri, slabi de inger sau fara a-i indeparta pe acesti oameni de noi? Cum ii explici prietenei, care mereu incearca sa te capteze in propriile-i drame, ca nu vrei sa faci parte din noul ei scenariu despre tradare si lipsa de incredere si totusi sa reusiti sa ramaneti prietene? Cum faci fata sefului ale carui crize de isterie terorizeaza intregul birou sau colegului care izbucneste in lacrimi de cateva ori pe saptamana cand te acuza ca il intrerupi, cand tot ce incerci sa faci este sa te intorci la munca ta?

Mai precis, ce poti faci cand acelasi gen de persoane si situatii dificile continua sa apara din nou si din nou in viata ta? Ar trebui sa zici ca-i pur si simplu karma? Ar trebui sa incerci sa gasesti metode de a rezolva aceste situatii prin dialog sau prin actiuni anticipative? Sau ar trebui sa adopti viziunea prin care oamenii din viata noastra, care par duri sau sacaietori, sunt de fapt reflexii ale propiilor noastre umbre si defecte renegate? Cu alte cuvinte, este adevarat ca proiectam asupra celorlalti acele defecte pe care nu vrem sa le vedem in noi ca apoi sa condamnam cealalta persoana pentru aceste aspecte? Oare a face fata persoanelor dificile trebuie sa inceapa cu a descoperi care sunt aspectele personale pe care vrem sa le imbunatatim?
Pe scurt, raspunsul yoghinic este 'da'. Evident, asta nu inseamna ca ar trebui sa ignoram comportamentul anti-social al unor oameni. (Ati recunoaste si exercita partea intr-o relatie dificila nu este acelasi lucru cu a fugi de confruntare). Iar unele relatii sunt atat de daunatoare, incat cel mai bun mod de a le schimba este chiar sa pleci, sa rupi acea legatura. Dar iata ideea de baza: Oricat am incerca, nu putem controla personalitatea si comportamentul altor oameni. Adevarata noastra putere rezida in capacitatea de a lucra cu noi insine.
Acest concept este, bineinteles, Yoga 1.0. Cu totii il cunoastem, dar cand suntem in ochiul furtunii, este primul lucru pe care il uitam. Deci, iata din nou ideea de baza: starea ta interioara este singura platforma de control de unde poti cu succes sa manevrezi felul in care interactionezi cu alti oameni. Nici macar cea mai buna tehnica interpersonala nu va functiona daca tu actionezi dintr-o stare de spirit bazata pe frica, prejudecati sau furie. O stare de spirit interioara deschisa si asumata este pivotul, punctul central din care putem incepe sa schimbam lumea.

La urma urmei, ce face o persoana sa fie dificila? In principiu, este vorba de energia lor. Nu trebuie sa studiem teoria campului cuantic sau metafizica buddista ca sa simtim cat de mult ne influenteaza starea si sentimentele energiile din jurul nostru. Ce inseamna ca iti e greu sa suporti o persoana? In principiu, are de-a face cu felul in care energiile tale interactioneaza cu ale lui/ei. Fiecare dintre noi este, in esenta, o sfera de energii. 'Personalitatea', asa cum o numim de obicei, este de fapt construita din multe straturi de energie - energii subtile, delicate, vulnerabile, dar si energiile noastre libere sau cele care ne constrang, ne limiteaza.
Aceste energii, care se manifesta prin corpurile noastre, prin ganduri, emotii si mintile noastre, se coaguleaza ca ceea ce numim personalitate. Ceea ce vedem la suprafata, prin limbajul si expresiile faciale, este suma energiilor care actioneaza in interiorul acelei persoane. Cand vorbim si interactionam, energia din spatele vorbelor noastre este cea care ii impacteaza cel mai profund pe cei din jur.

Iata ca schimbarea trebuie sa inceapa cu a invata cum sa recunoastem si sa ne modelam tiparele energetice. Cu cat suntem mai constienti - adica suntem capabili de a fi martorii energiilor, gandurilor si sentimentelor noastre si de a nu ne identifica cu ele - cu atat ne va fi mai usor sa lucram cu acestea. Asta inseamna exercitiu. Cei mai multi dintre noi nu pornim la drum cu o constiinta si cunoastere foarte dezvoltate despre propria noastra energie si felul in care ii impacteaza pe ceilalti. Si chiar si mai putini stim cum sa schimbam felul in care energiile noastre functioneaza.

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Intrebari pentru reflectie
Ce inseamna pentru tine sa devii constient de propriile tale energii? Poti impartasi o intamplare personala cand ai devenit constient de propria ta energie intr-o intercatiune? Ce te ajuta sa ramai conectat si constient de propriile tale energii?

Autoarea textului, Sally Kempton este un discipolul lui Swami Maktananda, scriitor si maestru spiritual. Textul de mai sus este extras din articolul: http://www.sallykempton.com/resources/articles/the-difficult-people-in-your-life/
Seed Questions for Reflection

What does becoming aware of your own energy mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of your own energy in an interaction? What helps you remain aware of your own energy?

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Add Your Reflection

8 Past Reflections
RD
Feb 13, 2026
It’s true that in our life, we don’t get all the people of our liking and choice, but cannot go with the theory of Jungian. There are many kind hearted saints and spiritual leaders got many people in their life who tried to put them down, disown them. For instance, Sant Tukaram wife so much rude and arrogant with him. The people around us by birth are not our choice. The class mates in school / colleges are not of our choice. All people around us can be difficult or easy going, it's a destiny - Karma theory. Another point is that "difficult people" are from our point of view and understanding. It's how do we see people speaks more about it. Personally, if I am in a situation, where people around me makes me uncomfortable, I just try to drive more positive within me by prayers, deep breathing and thanks god for everything in my life. Many such situations are temporary and does not remain for long. Summarising, it's our internal landscape, belief, formation takes a call fo... View full comment
JO
John
Apr 3, 2018

 great post!  In fact, I express my gratitude to the other person for making me aware of my own shortcomings. In difficult relationships, our power lies in our ability to work on ourselves. In my relationships with people, I want to be authentic and empathic. When I do mindfulness workshops, there have been times when I have found difficult to maintain the balance between authenticity and empathy.

MA
Mar 20, 2018
 I took time many years ago to learn about my own shadows, I never really set out to do this specifically, in fact I was working with an Anger Management therapist who helped me understand why I reacted the way I did to different situations. I believe that for many people in the world the concept of thier own shadow is simply not understood and I believe that until you understand this becoming aware of your own energy is a very difficult challenge. Of course every journey is different, some people are naturally attuned but for me it took/takes a lot of work to be present enough to be aware of my own energy but when I am and when I notice it change during an interaction I can move from a place of reflection. The only real thing that helps me is meditation and mindfullness practices of which there are many but the once a day practice while helps is not enough, I have on my phone a bell that rings at 59 minutes past each hour to remind me to check in with myself and do a little brea... View full comment
LR
Mar 20, 2018

In every day life we do come across people who are rude or vile. This is part of life.once we become aware of the emotions that arise in us we can handle the situations well. It is not easy but is possible. Energies of anger, irritation, etc cannot be countered with same energies. It becomes combative. Calmness and strategic handling will help.
what is yoga 101?

SU
Mar 19, 2018

Charity begins @home.The world was-is-will be good always.Thus it is surviving. No need to criticize, find fault and be unhappy.Just look within to connect with your peaceful, most powerful and pure soul. Doors to the untapped abundant perennial & potential source of energy-the life force will be slowly opened."Shivohum Shivohum Shiva Swaroopaha hum".This applies to every soul uniformly connecting everybody with anybody. I am in you and you are in me. This Deep meditation helps to realize how positive energetic you are.Then there is simply harmony,reconciliations and togetherness  with the common love-affection, sympathy-empathy,gratitude-generosity in all relationships and interactions.       

DD
Mar 16, 2018
 There's something about that guy I just can't stand in myself.  I look across the room and see me.  Seeing what I don't like in the other as being in some way also part of me is an opening to my being more aware of self and improving self.  And as the author says, I can't change the other and I can do some changing of me, so I might as well focus on me, which will have ain impact on the other.  Becoming aware of self is becoming aware of one's own energy.  As I would jump in, rather than be a scared hiding spectator, I became aware of my energy.  Sometimes others liked what I said or did, which felt good.  Sometimes others didn't like what I said or did.  The important thing is that I became aware that I have energy, which is power, I have a right and responsibility to own my energy and power, my energy and power make a difference, and I want to use my energy and power to make a positive difference.  My being aware of all that does he... View full comment
JP
Mar 15, 2018
 Awareness or witnessing consciousness of what is happening in me on different levels of myself such as physical, breath, mental and emotional levels non-judgmentally when I am with someone who is throwing an arrow at me, blaming me, criticizing me or ignoring me has been very helpful to me. Such a transaction becomes a mirror for me to look at my inner face and clean up my own lens. If I react to the other person I need to pay attention to me and work own myself. In fact, I express my gratitude to the other person for making me aware of my own shortcomings. In difficult relationships, our power lies in our ability to work on ourselves. In my relationships with people, I want to be authentic and empathic. When I do mindfulness workshops, there have been times when I have found difficult to maintain the balance between authenticity and empathy.For example, after I lead a guided mindfulness meditation, I invite the participants to share their experience and respond to the... View full comment