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Today's
Meditation:
One
of the greatest experiences we can have is that of seeing
other people do well or receive something special that they
deserve. In our highly competitive societies, though,
we often witness people who, instead of helping to share the
other person's good fortune, let envy and jealousy cloud
their vision and keep them from feeling the joy they could
be feeling on behalf of the other.
Imagine
these two responses to Linda's good fortune of getting a job
that pays well and has great benefits: "That's
wonderful news! I'm so happy for her--she works so
hard!"
"I
can't believe she got a job like that. I work just as
hard as she does, but she's getting paid so much more than I
am. It's not fair."
Which
one of these people is going to have a better day?
Which one of these people is going to be able to share
Linda's good fortune with her and contribute positively to
Linda's experience?
Of course, a third possible reaction is simple indifference,
which is another response that doesn't do anything at all to
make anyone feel any better about anything.
If
we can practice the art of always feeling joy for the good
fortune of others, what a wonderful thing we'll be doing for
ourselves! What a great gift we'll give ourselves--
the
ability to feel joy on a regular basis, and the ability to
share it with those we love.
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