Who are the people who seem to be able to push your buttons and send you into a frenzy?
Your spouse?
Your children?
Your parents?
A certain employee?
Your boss?
A neighbor?
I'm talking about the ones who really seem to get to you.
Anyone else might say the same thing and you are able to blissfully ignore them and even respond in your most spiritual and unconditionally loving tone, "Thank you for sharing."
Obviously those people do not present any threat to your being an instrument of peace.
It's those button pushers, the ones who succeed in sending you into a state of frustration and turmoil with a simple look of disapproval or a frown, who are your greatest teachers.
Begin recognizing that all of these people are your master teachers, assisting you in being an instrument of peace.
That's right, these are your guides, and they have much to teach you.
The moments when you think someone else is causing the disorder and chaos that you are feeling are moments to recognize that that person is allowing you to discover that you have not yet mastered yourself.
That's right, you needed a reminder that you have work to do on yourself in order to be an instrument of peace.
Remember, the state of enlightenment is a state of being immersed in, and surrounded by peace.
Anyone whom you have given authority to remove you from that position is a reminder to you of just what you must do in order to become more peaceful.
In my life, my wife and children are my greatest teachers.
I call these very special teachers my soul mates.
Now my definition of a soul mate is not someone who agrees with you on every issue, shares the same interests, and is always attempting to please you.
I define soul mates as the ones you love deeply, but whom you can never get rid of, who always show up, and with whom you are often in disagreement.
These soul mates are your greatest teachers because they are a continuous reminder, sent by God(dess), to help you to master yourself.
So it is tremendously beneficial if you are aware that these are people to honor.
My wife is just such a person.
We have been together for many years, weathering crises together, but still I can be upset over something she said or the tone of voice she may have used.
I know full well that had anyone else said it to me that way, I would have dismissed it and been at peace instantly.
Yet, with my soul mate, I am not at peace.
Likewise, I have given my children the same power.
In moments of quiet reflection on my being upset I realize that once again I have not passed this simple test --- the ability to be at peace in the face of my master teachers.
To be an instrument of thy peace you (and I) must be able to radiate outward that which we are inside.
Regardless of what or when we encounter them, our master teachers are there to help us to become an instrument of peace.
Someday, gradually to be sure, I will be able to be at peace even in those moments when my greatest teachers are doing their very best work!
... from the book, "There's A Spiritual Answer to Every Problem," by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Sometimes you walk into things that, if you were paying attention, vibrationally, you would know right from the beginning that it wasn't what you are wanting.
In most cases, your initial knee-jerk response was a pretty good indicator of how it was going to turn out later.
The things that give most of you the most grief are those things that initially you had a feeling response about, but then you talked yourself out of it for one reason or another.
