I am indebted to Lew Epstein who inspired this conversation.
I've got an unconventional regard of what it is to trust. I've also
got an unconventional regard of what it is to be loved.
First, trust.
I trust you. Period. That's my entire thesis right there.
There's nothing you need to
do.
to have my trust. I create a space of trust for you. You
may chose to step into it, or not. You have the opportunity to step
into your own magnificence, or not. In my world, trust is
granted rather than earned. If you have to
earn my trust, then I'm a feverish untrusting
paranoid, always looking over my shoulder in
fear
of what may come next. If I grant you my trust,
I'm free,
generous, and at ease.
Notice there's nothing selfish (small "s") ie
ego-centric
about trusting this way. To trust this way I actually have to have
something at stake. To trust this way I actually have to have something
at risk. Yet more to the point, for me trusting this way
isn't about me. For me, trusting this way is really all about
you. And you don't have to do anything to earn my
trust. I trust you not because you've earned my trust. I trust you
because I trust you. In other words, I trust you because I
say "I trust you.".
Second, to be loved.
When I say "The world loves me", similarly it isn't as
ego-centric
as it may sound. In my world, love is a given rather than
an earned.
<aside>
When I say love is "a given", I'm saying it's
axiomatic - not that it's donated.
<un-aside>
If I have to earn your love, then I'm a feverish
unloved clod of rejection, always looking for ways to get
your attention and your approval
in fear
of if I don't get your attention and your approval, my
life isn't validated. On the other hand, if I say "The
world loves me" (ie love is a given), then love is the space into which
I
show up.
I'm free,
acknowledged, appreciated, and at ease. With you. Or without you. And
you'll notice I'm not needy around you.
Now watch. If I say "The world loves me", it's really only the
precursor to something arguably even more risky which is this: saying
"I love the world back" ie saying "I love the world so
much I want it to
work.".
The next time you're alone, the next time you're
by your Self,
create the world loves you. Invent the possibility the world loves
you. The way you invent the possibility the world loves you is you
say the world loves you. Declare the world
loves you. The possibility the world loves you falls out of your
mouth. The world loves you because you consider it so.
That's BIG. That's very big.
When you get the world loves you ie when you really get
the world loves you, love the world back. Love the world back
so much you want it to
work.