“Remember, People Can’t Walk On You If You Don’t Lie Down!”

When we allow others use manipulation, abuse, withdrawal or lying to put unreasonable demands and expectations on us; “We Need To Stand Up!”

It’s a kin to the mythical story of the “Great Guru” who lived in a cave on top of a tall mountain. A young woman (or man) was in search of everything thing that they needed to know about life in order to survive and have wisdom. So, they were told the best way to find this out was to climb this mountain all the way to the top, beseech this knowledge from the Great Guru.

Day one, all the way to the top of this long steep mountain they climbed. Barely getting their breath and wits about them, out came the Great Guru holding a big stick. As instructed by the people below they told the Guru why they were there. Almost immediately, without a word the Great Guru started to beat them with his stick , back, back all the way to the edge of the mountain!

Day two rolled around and undeterred by the beating they’d received the day before, again they climbed to the top of the mountain. And, once again the Guru appeared from his deep dark cave, and with his stick beat them again back, back to the edge of the mountain.

Day three, either beaten senseless or dam determined, I’m not sure which? They climbed all the way to the top of the mountain. Almost immediately the Great Guru started to emerged and raise his big stick. Before he could make the first strike, the person swiftly reached into the air and grabbed the stick. Although they were clutching his stick, suddenly they realized there was no force to which they were resisting! The Great Guru smiled a dark toothed grin and said in a soft direct voice; “Now you know all there is to know about life.”

What is it that we need to know about life in order to have wisdom, success, peace and to survive the mighty twists and turns of an unpredictable world? Well, much like in the little parable above, we need to learn to have boundaries. Know where we end and others should begin, and that our rights and feeling matter as much as the next persons, whether they are family, friend, coworker or foe. We don’t have to lay down as the doormat for someone else to tread on while sojourning to their desired destiny.  Nor do we have to be held hostage to some addiction whether it be our own or someone else’s.

So, get up and put your hand out as far as your arm will extend and that is a good starting point of where you set a limit as to how far you will be invaded and mistreated. It’s a safety buffer.  It’s a sacred invisible amount of space that contains all of your rights as a fair and honest human being. And the love of a Heavenly Father and the wisdom to know how to survive and take ownership of only what belongs to you!

The little saying / picture above is a good rule of thumb in most relationships, we can walk and have the right to even when someone tries to put all the blame on us. You have the keys to your cell, don’t be your own jailer! May God Bless you and keep you always.