Presence and understanding

[Stranger]

I agree that the choice is obvious. I fully believe that love is the answer or at least opens the door for the answer to come in. But sometimes I simply do not feel it, and that is okay. I very much like what you said about taking things moment by moment.

That is definitely okay, Folk-love. It's not the feeling that matters initially, but the intention to be compassionate toward whoever is offending you -- to put your own rightness or hurt aside for the moment, and instead focus on the needs of the other person, even while they are being unfair or unjust toward you, even in that moment. Mindfulness makes this choice possible. You may not be able to create the feeling of love, but you always have full control over that intention to be compassionate, although the ego will pull you like ten pissed-off mules the other way, towards focusing on and satisfying your own needs and your own hurt.

As you continue making the choice to maintain peace and a compassionate attitude, especially in more challenging circumstances, the more your heart will open, and the pull of the ego diminish; the more your heart opens, the easier it becomes to maintain peace and a compassionate attitude, even in more challenging circumstances. "To him who has, more shall be given." And thus we progress.

Meditation is also sort of the emotional reset button that allows us to clear out emotional/energetic debris and find peace. How long we manage to hang on to that peace depends on what we do in each subsequent moment - the ultimate aim is a continuous compassionate mindfuless which my wife calls "living meditation."