How to Stay Loving in Difficult Relationships

Dear Choose Happy Community,Sometimes the deepest pain comes from the people closest to us. And when someone continues behaviors that hurt us, it can feel impossible to find peace. This teaching offers a different kind of freedom: the realization that healing does not always depend on the other person changing first.The moment we choose to stop carrying resentment and reconnect with love, something inside of us begins to soften and open. That doesn’t mean ignoring harmful behavior. It means refusing to let pain define the state of your heart. Liberation begins when you choose peace within yourself, even before external circumstances change.Here’s one of our favorite quotes from the video:“ Someone said to me, I think this was maybe last summer, ‘I’m ready to liberate myself’ in relation to unresolved pain that they had in relation to a parent. And the parent is still present in their life and engaging in these behaviors that are painful. ”And so this person made a conscious choice. No matter what, unconditionally, to stay in the energy of love, and to stay in the energy of kindness, to stay in the energy of...They didn’t use these words, but it’s, ‘I thank you for the gift of life which I received through you. And I choose to respect you unconditionally for the gift of life which shared through you. I choose to stay in the energy of love and appreciation unconditionally for the gifts which have shared through you.’“And they are now free. They have freed themselves. They feel only love in relation to their parent’s behavior. So it has transformed their relationship with their parent, even though their parent is still engaged in the painful behaviors. So this person liberated themself even without the other person transforming or changing.”We also shared this video on YouTube, but wanted you to be able to have it on your Substack video player as well, in case you prefer that.Having it on Substack makes it easy for you to see any other podcasts, videos, articles, or full meditation services that might be available in the Expansion Within Expansion by clicking here.If you have heard this teaching before, we invite you — as Swami so often invites us — to hear it as if you are hearing it for the first time. Often we receive these teachings right when we need them.In loving service,Awake Yoga MeditationEverything available to a paid subscriber. Are you one yet?This is a free post made available to everyone. If you are not yet a paid subscriber to Choose Happy with Swami Nityananda, consider becoming one today to receive exclusive audio talks, articles, meditation service replays, access to the archives, and so much more.Podcast Episodes*: All EpisodesDarshan Articles*: All ArticlesFrom the Founder Series: All Series • Mantra Series • St. Francis Prayer SeriesLive Meditation Replays: All Services • Index of All Services by Series • Sunday Meditation Services • Tuesday Darshan Meditation Services • Friday Night Healing Meditation Services • SatsangsBook Excerpts**: All Excerpts • Satsang with Swami ShankaranandaWorkshops (formerly eCourses): All Workshops • The Spiritual Art of Intentions: Creating a Life You Love • Pillars of Self-Realization: 50 Days with Swami Shankarananda • Love: The Eternal Flame of Life Within You • Wisdom: Discovering the Peace in Our True Nature*Also available to Free Subscribers**Select posts also available to Free SubscribersConsider making a financial contribution to Awake Yoga MeditationYour generosity makes it possible for AYM to share Kriya Yoga, meditations, and teachings of truth with people around the world. It also allows the community to support the presiding teacher’s Dakshina (reimbursement of basic living expenses for housing, transportation, and insurance). The presiding teacher for Awake Yoga Meditation is Swami Nityananda.Consider making a financial contribution to Swami’s BowlAs the presiding teacher, Swami Nityananda selflessly offers her wisdom without taking a salary from Awake Yoga Meditation. Your gift honors her giving and ensures she can continue to share her invaluable teachings. The tradition of meditation communities like Awake Yoga Meditation is to support the presiding teacher’s Dakshina (reimbursement of basic living expenses for housing, transportation, and insurance). All of the other myriad expenses of life are offered from student to teacher through Swami’s Bowl.Choose Happy with Swami Nityananda is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awakeyogameditation.substack.com/subscribe