A New Lesson

I learned something really wonderful today and I wanted to share with my friends:

"When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else. In many instances, choosing to be offended is a symptom of a much deeper and more serious spiritual malady.
You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended."

I am not a person who is easily offended but I am hearing more and more of this term used in posts on blogs, facebook pages and in person and after hearing this today I felt prompted to share this with everyone on all forms of social media.  It's a great lesson and reminder to us all! 

hugs, Gwen

Comments

[Beverley]

thank you so much.....i have never looked at it that way....i just believe in turning the other cheek or being a better person than the person throwing insults...i just figure its the way they were brought up and they don't know any better than to be rude.
but i like your way too!.....
hugs
bev

[Shauna]

Hi Gwen~
Can you please share, either here or to my email, the source of the quote in your post? A Conference talk?!
Thanks, Shauna
shm at bigplanet dot com