Speaking of power over others, it just occurred to me that handing away my personal power. There was a funeral that I was likely to attend, yet circumstances prevented me from going. I learned, however, that my ex-girlfriend was there and immediately that thirty pound anxiety weight was dropped into the pit of my stomach. The break-up wasn't harsh but the relationship was (it was also a great catalyst for change but that is for another blog). This was a serious awakening for me. Even still, after quite some time of being apart, that pit returned and without the aid of my thoughts. It was as if all the old patterns begin to slip back in to my life, even if only for a few seconds. I realized, however, that all of this was me feeling powerless to the situation. This was a pattern I followed throughout that entire relationship. I felt frustrated because "she" wouldn't do what I felt was the "right" thing, but really, in truth, I had expectations and those expectations were not met.

What I have learned, thus far in my life, is that to expect anything to go the way you think it should is to set yourself up for major disappointment.

Moral of this story: if you feel angry or anxious, sad or scared by another person's presence, remember that your pain is not their fault. You are viewing the situation as if you are powerless to change it and that is the furthest fact from the truth.