A very helpful reminder for me this morning:
I remembered the other day that part of Zen practice is “taking the step back.” Being very human I have negative, unskilful reactions to things that other people do and say. The unskillful way to have such a reaction is to go with it and be caught up in it like a net that drags me along to further negative consequences – anger, jealousy, irritation – you know.
The skillful way is to take a step back and see the reaction for just what it is – my emotions living their life with no regard for my wholeness. Part of the stepping back is to make no judgement of the reaction, not judging it as negative or positive; and not judging me for having it in the first place.
On Monday I was able to do this by seeing my reaction and saying to myself, “Isn’t that interesting”; and then seeing what was next.