How to Love People the Way They Are

Yesterday, a friend of mine phoned me and toldher mother because she didn't accept the way
me that she had problems with her mother. Hershe was. She realized that indeed, every time she
mother actually divorced her father a couple ofmet her mother she reproached her for
years ago and she is now dating men. She can'tsomething!
stay with one, every time she has to changeAnother important thing is, that everybody has
because she always find something that goesthe right to be the way they are. Who are we to
wrong.want people to change? We are dictators... The
My friend told me that she wanted her mother toway we want it, even if we find "good reasons"
change. And beside this thing with men that sheto want this change, makes us dictate to other
disapproved, she also complained about the lackhow they have to be. Dictators had really "good
of presence of her mother for her. She explainedreasons" in their beliefs to do what they did!
me that she needed her, and that it is reallyPeople have the right to make mistakes, people
difficult to have a mother who doesn't care abouthave the right to do what they want for
her. She thinks it is normal that a mother has tothemselves and we don't have to say anything. If
worry about her daughter and ask after her.we want to give our opinion to people, and if we
Freedom Is A Rightknow we can because they do agree with it, of
First of all, I explained my friend that her mothercourse there is no problem. And it is great to give
didn't have to do what she wanted her to do.our opinion to people, this could help if the person
When you think about it, even if my friend'swants to. But the way that the person will act
mother doesn't make good decisions with menwith our opinion doesn't matter. It is not our
for example, it is truly her choice to do what sheproblem anymore. It is up to the person to do
wants. Who is my friend to tell her mother whatwhat she wants to do. We did our job, we gave
to do? Who is anybody to tell anybody what toour advices and opinion about a situation we think
do?is difficult and now it's the other person's job to
You can tell me: "She is her daughter", I woulddecide what she wants to do with our advice or
say: "Yes, and then?". Yes they are from theopinion.
same family, yes they are linked by blood but thisThe way people act don't have to have any
is not a reason. Nobody, family or not family,consequences on us.
have rights on the freedom of someone else.There is one rule you have to understand and
Family is a sensible topic and in general people'smaster: The problems always come from you,
rights are overridden in the family circle with morepeople are never responsible for your unhappiness
power. It is because we have the belief that beingor your misery. This is yourself that make you
part of a family make that we have specialunhappy. If you start to believe that you feel bad
authority on its members. But it is not true and itbecause somebody did that, if you feel angry
is really a source of pain. The belief that you canbecause somebody told that... It means that you
change people even if they don't want to isput the problem outside of you and can't find a
source of pain for both parts too.solution that will make you really happy.
What The Will To Change People Really MeansFor example, you could say that if somebody
Now, let's see why people don't have to bedoes something that hurts you, this is his fault.
changed even if you think this is the reason whyThe thing is to understand that the fact that
you suffer.other people interact with you is normal. The
First of all, I'm not saying that you cannot giveinteractions can be in a good way or in a bad
your opinion to people. It just depends on whichway, but it is normal! This is the reality. We have
frame of mind you are. If you are in the framethe belief in our mind that everybody has to be
of mind to change people, then thekind with us. This is not true! If we think this, then
communication between you and the person youwe are not going to be happy, because we put
want to change will not be good. Because you willour happiness in someone else's hands.
talk to this person in the way that she will feel aThe reality isn't that people have to be kind, have
pressure that she has to do things in order tonot to be violent... If it was the instance, it would
please you.not be violence neither nastiness on earth. Is our
When you want to change people, it means thatworld fill in with kind people and non-violent
you think and believe that the answer to yourpeople? NO. So face it! Reality isn't that
problems are outside of you, that is to say in theeverybody has to be good to you because you
person you want to change. You think that if theare you and you deserve kindness. If you believe
person changes you won't have your problemsit, then you won't be happy, because you will
anymore. And this is a big mistake. First if youthink that it is people due to be kind with you and
think about it, you don't want the person tothat it is people's responsibility if you are unhappy,
change for her good, you always have a benefitdepressed...
for this change. If not, you would not make herWhen something happens to you, you have to
change at all cost. This is a selfish requestaccept it. Because things are the way they are
because you ask somebody to make a changeand it can't be change. When you think that
for your good and for your well being.somebody shouldn't have done what he's done,
This is bad for you because you put theyou go against the reality that cannot be changed.
accomplishment of your happiness outside of you,You fight with reality and you are going to lose.
that is to say that you will never find it.Why fighting if we know things cannot be
Happiness, well-being, realization, confidence... arechange? It could seem crazy no? But that is
states you can only find in yourself. The beliefexactly what we all do! Complaining about
that it is outside will make you unhappy. This issomeone else make you make your own
really a tricky thing because when you trulysadness. Struggling against the reality means
believe that your happiness depends on other,struggling with our self and make our own
you act with them in a way where neither youunhappiness...
nor them can be happy and it makes a viciousYou Are Responsible Of Your Happiness!
circle.Another thing, when you think you need other
For example in my friend's story, she told mepeople's love proof, it means in reality that you
that her mother has to change to become moreneed a proof of your own love for yourself.
present for her. She gave the example of theWhen you look for love outside of you, you will
phone. She wants her mother to call her moremiss it. You don't need other people's love! You
regularly to ask after her and be sure thatneed to focus on yourself, focus on the love you
everything is okay for her daughter. After all, thisgive to you and how you can be mean to
is her function, said my friend.yourself fighting reality all the time and make you
I asked her why she doesn't call her mother if itsuffer all the time! If somebody doesn't give you
is really giving her some news that she wanted.the love you want, ask you the question: has this
She told me: "No, she has to do that, not me!". Iperson the obligation to give me her love? The
said that in this instance, the reality is that sheanswer is no, so in reality, what makes you
doesn't really want to give news to her mothersuffer is not the lack of love but the fact that
because if it was, she would just take her phoneyou fight reality and don't accept it. The only thing
and said: "hi mum, I call you to give you someto do is, okay, she doesn't love me. Is it a
news!"drama? No more, because you are accepting
At this moment she realized that it was indeedreality, and when you face it. You can't feel
not the fact that she wanted to give news to herunloved anymore, because you give yourself
mother but the fact that she wanted a loveenough love to be able to make you stop
proof from her mother.suffering anymore in accepting reality. Accepting
I told her, you think your mother doesn't lovereality, means stop fighting and stop fighting
you? She told me no, I know she loves me BUT...Imeans happiness.
said: "STOP, you have your answer, you want toSo, in a nutshell, if you love people the way they
change your mother but the reason why youare and don't wait for anything, well it is true love.
want this is not what you think."True love for yourself because you don't put
I told to my friend that loving people means toyour happiness outside, and true love for the
love them the way they are. I explained her thatother person because you will respect her rights
she wanted proof of her mother's love, but atand freedom.
the same time she didn't give a proof of love to