If you have a son or daughter living at home long after the age they should be independent, you need to ask yourself “why?”. With the affluence of our society, it’s often easy to allow them to live at home spending our money rather than pushing them out of the nest on their own. Take a look at Harold (page 132). Harold’s daughter spends her time playing tennis at the club because she has daddy’s trust fund to live off of.
Do you let people’s thoughts dictate your life? What you wear? (“You are NOT going out dressed like THAT.” Or “Hey I see the wife dressed you again this morning.”) Perhaps in moderation this is a good thing, but to take it to the extreme could cause you to go fully agoraphobic.
How about places in life? “I wish I could swim like Mark.” Or wealth. How would it make you feel if your neighbor won the lottery, or landed a cushy six figure job?
Do you use guilt or manipulation to change other people’s choices? How many times have you allowed your decisions to be changed based on other people manipulating you?
These are all subtle areas of boundaries. The more we can take ownership of how we feel, and allow others the freedom to feel as they wish, the happier and more content we become.
Sometimes we may want to help another person change their point of view through some sort of manipulation. In these times we must realize that the ultimate decision is up to the individual, and not us for them. If we can be at peace with this, our contentment will grow.
Do you tend to manipulate others?
How do you feel when others disagree with you?
Do you find yourself wanting (coveting) what another person has?
Do you think everybody should make the same choices as you do?
How can you find peace with other people who are different than you?
Would you wear my tie-dye shirt out in public?