"You Don't Love Me!" - A story of spiritual evolution

My wife Maria told me a story recently that she heard in a workshop led by Dave Richo.

A man had just attended a lecture on dealing with anger, and he had learned that anger -- while ostensibly caused by the actions or attitudes of others -- can often have a personal, internal cause. In fact, the experience of prior hurts or insults can resonate in the present, so much so that we can fly off the handle with anger at the least provocation.

Getting in touch with our own past hurts can free us from reacting with anger in the present moment, and the primary tool for relaxing in the moment of perceived slight is to acknowledge that the love and attention we may desire from others is not forthcoming.

So, this man drove home on the freeway, and when another driver cut him off sharply, he felt his blood begin to boil. He raced to pull up alongside the careless driver, rolled down his window, stuck out his fist, shook it, and yelled, "You don't love me!"