Hey D — that sounds exhausting, and honestly like a classic miscommunication spiral more than anything intentional.
You handled it thoughtfully, but there’s a limit to how much responsibility we can carry for another person’s reactions. I’d just gently question one piece: their anger doesn’t necessarily belong to you. What it activates in you is yours to meet — but the emotion itself is still theirs. The “mirror” idea can be helpful, yet it can also make us take ownership of energy that was never ours in the first place.
Really appreciate the honesty in what you shared. Growth rarely looks tidy.
This is deeply resonant at this time Derek. Thank you for your clarity and honesty. It is something I also struggle with; the relapses into old thought patterns of rage and anger and occasional outbursts verbal . Realising that returning to the healthy response after a slipped reaction outburst is the sign of growth not failure and not an excuse to double down on the more self destructive behaviour as you say.
Hey D — that sounds exhausting, and honestly like a classic miscommunication spiral more than anything intentional.
You handled it thoughtfully, but there’s a limit to how much responsibility we can carry for another person’s reactions. I’d just gently question one piece: their anger doesn’t necessarily belong to you. What it activates in you is yours to meet — but the emotion itself is still theirs. The “mirror” idea can be helpful, yet it can also make us take ownership of energy that was never ours in the first place.
Really appreciate the honesty in what you shared. Growth rarely looks tidy.
Namaste brother.
The most important part is responding.
But first, comes acceptance and forgiveness.
When we can accept and forgive ourselves for losing our cool, we can regain it.
There is only the acknowledgment that we are, in more ways than not, one another.
I live this. It's so true. How we perceive ourselves is how the 🌎 reflects back to us!!
This is deeply resonant at this time Derek. Thank you for your clarity and honesty. It is something I also struggle with; the relapses into old thought patterns of rage and anger and occasional outbursts verbal . Realising that returning to the healthy response after a slipped reaction outburst is the sign of growth not failure and not an excuse to double down on the more self destructive behaviour as you say.