As within, so without

On Earth, our lessons are presented to us by making our outside world an exact reflection of our inside world, our psyche.

Suddenly, that concept makes sense.  I 'get' it after years of reading it.  Many times.  So, if my outer world is a reflection of my inner world, what's inside out?

Looking around me, there are many clues...  on the positive side:

• our flat has a lot of light, warmth and is very clean - yes, that's me on the inside too
• I have a wonderful, joyful son ... playing with him I see my inner beauty most clearly
• I have a very patient and integrity filled husband ... I have them too!
• James goes to nursery one day a week ... I have support outside, so I must be supporting myself inside too

Lessons from the outside world:

• we have a cellar, summer house and corridor about to explode with clutter that has not been dealt with, that we are saving for when we get a home... there are a couple of life issues I still have to deal with, issues where I'm in avoidance.
• our home is too small for us and I feel squeezed ... I have a very self depreciating view of myself, I squeeze myself into an image of me that is too small, that does honour all of who am I and what I have done
• our car is too big for me ... I feel very small in the world and uncomfortable in a big car; it might be far better to embrace its size rather than squirm every time I sit into it.  I could start to see myself as a bigger and more powerful person than the mouse I often imagine, hidden away from the world.
• I don't have an income ... what am I giving out?  I could be more generous in my thoughts and more appreciative of what I do have, joyful that we do have the money for the groceries every week and enough to travel.
• I find people to be so rude and thoughtless these days ... Dirk's biggest criticism of me is that I am very critical.  I could be kinder, more tolerant and thoughtful.

There is a theme emerging here; apart from an issue I need to deal with and now commit to do so, I see a great deal of overlap in my 'ongoing development' section, basically it's about kindness and honouring myself and others.  As I honour myself more, as I appreciate myself, I will automatically see others in a kinder light.  As within, so without.