The Key to Building Relationships
By Allen Imbarrato
Whether it is with ourselves, a person, or nature, the key to building relationships is to expand our sense of being present. To be fully present with ourselves is to love our self-more fully. This is not as easy as it may sound. As we have many judgments and filters that cloud our view of who we really are. To unconditionally love our self requires that we see past these self-judgments that we are not enough of something, that something is missing or wrong with us. We can sometimes think that when we can improve ourselves and make ourselves a better person, we will deserve to love ourselves.
Yet, to see past our seeming flaws or imperfections to know our true innate loving essence requires letting go of being right about what is wrong with us. In fact, through mindfulness, we can come to know that underlying these imperfections is a being that is lovable just the way he or she already is. We call that the Stress-Free Zone. The Stress Free-Zone is a place of peace, where we can rest in the calmness of awareness of our presence. Before we are a personality, an ego, a mind, we are a presence that is creative, resourceful, and whole. By listening and being in nature, we can be reminded of this essential self. By being present with others, we can recognize the essence in others, which is the meaning of "Namaste."