THIRTY-EIGHT

睽

DIFFICULT COMMUNICATION

CONCERNS: Insensitivity to others; lack of cooperation and harmony; competition of interests; doubt and suspicion leading to estrangement.

1. We need to keep the channels of communication open, not allowing ourselves to become isolated nor alienating others, no matter how aggressively we are provoked.
2. It is correct to use every proper means to communicate and cooperate with another.
3. Although we may be frustrated in our efforts to communicate and progress, if this difficulty stimulates us to intensify our effort and perseverance, we will succeed.
4. If we return to communicating with sincerity, we can overcome isolation and distrust.
5. We may proceed after we have gotten our emotional reactivities under our control.
6. Our fearful projections are creating unnecessary tension; if this is confronted and dispelled, good communication can occur.

COMMENT: How do we bring about harmony among minds that are in opposition, distrustful and fearful? We start with ourselves and cultivate self-restraint in expression, patience and precision in communication. We speak out of concern, not out of irritation and disapproval. How can a dialog of disapproval produce agreement? When we can see that all opposites are contributory to a larger whole, our process of understanding matures and we begin to relinquish our automatic attachment to individual points of view. Such openness on our part gives others the opportunity to become flexible and to participate in real communication.