Re: Respectfulness, sensitivity, and sweetness.
Posted by Pauline on May 28, 2002 at 20:18:16:

In Reply to: Respectfulness, sensitivity, and sweetness. posted by John on May 24, 2002 at 23:43:22:

Hello Coach,

I really really love this post on 'sweetness'.

I carry it with me where'er I go. :)

My only problem with is is described below;-

"Our barriers to love are rarely consciously chosen. They are our
efforts to protect the places where the heart is bruised. Somewhere,
sometime, we felt as though an open heart caused us pain or
humiliation. We loved with the openness of a child, and someone
didn't care, or laughed, or even punished us for the effort.

In a quick moment, perhaps a fraction of a second, we made a
decision to protect ourselves from ever feeling that pain again. We
would never again allow ourselves to be so vulnerable. We built
emotional defenses. We tried to build a fortress across our heart, to
protect us from any cold assault. The only problem is, according to
the Course, that we create what we defend against."

--Marianne Williamson - A Return to Love, p.146

Social pressures also 'force' us to look for the wrong goodies -
wealth, power, appearances. And shopping lists for the ideal mate
usually include 'roles' - good provider, good lover, intelligent.
These all put us off the real reason for seeking intimate
companionship.

love
Pauline.

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