Today we ask that you refrain from attempting to impose your beliefs on anyone else.

Many of you are very open-minded, tolerant people.  You do not think of yourselves as being people who impose your beliefs on others.  Yet you might be surprised.

Every time you sit in judgment over someone else, thinking they are living their lives in a wrong way or making wrong decisions, you are unconsciously wishing to impose your belief system on them.

From that desire, it is a short leap to impulsive action.  You may begin behaving in ways to subtly, or not-so-subtly, influence and coerce that person to behave differently.

It is one thing if someone is looking to you for help, or advice, or wisdom.

It is another thing to make judgmental or critical comments, or attempt to passively or aggressively manipulate someone else’s behavior.

Human beings would do well to learn to ask permission of each other much more than they do.

Wouldn’t it be nice if, before someone launched into a criticism of you, that person asked your permission first?  In an environment where you felt completely comfortable saying: “No, I actually don’t wish to hear that right now.”

It is one thing to ask for, and receive, constructive feedback.  It another to be attacked.

Yet humans feel it is their right to criticize and attack other humans.  They generally do this a great deal more than they give praise.

So just notice this, in yourself.

Moments when you jump in to correct and criticize, and tell other people how they ought to do things — when they have not asked for this from you.

That goes even with the all the material you read here.

If you choose to read this material, you have consented to do so.  But certainly you should never feel that you must act on it — especially if it does not feel right for you.

To know what is right for you, you must know yourself.

No one else can know what is right for you.  Just as you cannot know what is right for anyone else.