Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

September 1, 2014

“The way of the miracle-worker is to see all human behavior as one of two things: either love or a call for love.” –Marianne Williamson

If we only look at the surface of another person’s behavior, we can miss the deeper message.  The surface behavior and the intention underneath can be very different.  Individuals who act as catalysts for change accept another’s behavior and look for the underlying intention.  While keeping their boundaries in place, they seek to understand what the person is expressing or asking for by behaving this way.  Telling someone to change one of their long-standing behaviors rarely works.  Addressing the wounds and desires underneath the behavior allows for change.

Do I judge those around me based on their behaviors?  What might change if I reacted to their underlying wound or desire instead of their behavior?