CONTROL:

~

If we reach out and try to force someone to give us what we believe he
or she holds, we will be disappointed. We will discover that it is an
illusion. The person didn't hold it.

In those moments when we are trying to reach out and force someone
to stop our pain and create our joy, if we can find the courage to stop
flailing about and instead stand still and deal with our issues, we will
find our happiness.

Yes, it is true that if someone steps on our foot, he or she is hurting us
and therefore holds the power to stop our pain by removing his or her
foot. But the pain is still ours. And so is the responsibility to tell someone
to stop stepping on our feet.

Healing will come when we're aware of how we attempt to use others to
stop our pain and create our happiness. We will receive insights that can
change the course of our relationships.

We will see that, all along, our happiness and our well-being have been in
our hands.