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Why the Inside Matters

I’m in the middle of what has become my annual Canada tour and it’s such a pleasure to feel all the love from my spiritual kinspeople here. I think of myself as “almost Canadian” since my parents were both born in Ontario, my father in Chatham in 1914 and my mother in Hamilton in 1916. I grew up in Detroit and Canada is part of my world. Last month I spoke at the Hay House I Can Do It Conference in Vancouver—wonderful and beautiful as always. And on June 29, I’ll be speaking at the Hay House I Can Do It Conference in Toronto. It’s the weekend before Canada Day on July 1 so maybe we’ll have some early fireworks to enjoy.

I have some great Canada stories, like the time I got lost in Vancouver’s Stanley Park and instead of my usual six miles ended up running a marathon before I found my way out! Lately, I’ve been sharing one of my favorite Toronto experiences with my audiences. It happened several years ago when an unsuspecting young man helped me illustrate an eternal truth we all need to be reminded of:

I was preparing to speak at an I Can Do It conference and I decided to bring an orange on stage with me as a prop for my lecture. I opened a conversation with a bright young fellow of about twelve who was sitting in the front row.

“If I were to squeeze this orange as hard as I could, what would come out?” I asked him.

He looked at me like I was a little crazy and said, “Juice, of course.”

“Do you think apple juice could come out of it?”

“No!” he laughed.

“What about grapefruit juice?”

“No!”

“What would come out of it?”

“Orange juice, of course.”

“Why? Why when you squeeze an orange does orange juice come out?”

He may have been getting a little exasperated with me at this point. “Well, it’s an orange and that’s what’s inside.”

I nodded. “Let’s assume that this orange isn’t an orange, but it’s you. And someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, says something you don’t like, offends you. And out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, fear. Why? The answer, as our young friend has told us, is because that’s what’s inside.”

It’s one of the great lessons of life.  What comes out when life squeezes you?  When someone hurts or offends you? If anger, pain and fear come out of you, it’s because that’s what’s inside. It doesn’t matter who does the squeezing—your mother, your brother, your children, your boss, the government. If someone says something about you that you don’t like, what comes out of you is what’s inside. And what’s inside is up to you, it’s your choice.

When someone puts the pressure on you and out of you comes anything other than love, it’s because that’s what you’ve allowed to be inside. Once you take away all those negative things you don’t want in your life and replace them with love, you’ll find yourself living a highly functioning life.

Thanks, my young friend, and here’s an orange for you!

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Comments

Ronald says:

I have been following you most of my life from your erroneous zones to the shift. The Tau was a real eye opener. Cogito ergo sum:. I think therefore I am

Anne says:

I love this story, it’s perfect! And I can always see how right it is after someone has been squeezing me. But when someone is squeezing me, all I want them to do is stop.

Trudy says:

Waiting patiently in another part of Canada, Newfoundland, to hear and experience you for the first time next week!

Right Meditation says:

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Title : The little known psychological principle of practicing ANY meditation technique as effectively as a monk
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Curky Kari says:

That is brilliantly said…..when you were explaining it , I could see someone in my head who I love very much but we parted because all these feelings came out of him when I needed help with simple every day jobs , I wish I could have helped him get rid of all these symptoms………..but I also know why they were there…….

Brooke says:

I read this and have such a hard time with it. Generally I am not filled with anger… but in regards to my sister who has caused so much pain to me, I feel so much ugly ooze out of me. I don’t know how to feel myself around her? Her anger and fear are so strong it suffocates me when I am near her. Please help me, please.

Stef says:

I was very impressed with everything you said in the interview from Hay House Summit. I am grateful for that.
I want to help you, I know well that it will be, to solve your health problems.
All you need to do is to find a Bowen practitioner. Even in Canada are many.
Good health! God bless you!

Stephanie says:

This is one of my favorite stories and I share it often. Today I have been faced with such venom and negativity from a neighbor I went to your website for some positive reinforcement and this is what I read. Thank you and God Bless you for your guidance.

kim says:

We have to FEEL that love and peace inside us, this is so important. It is within waiting for us to fill up with this divinity.

Cloris Kylie says:

Your orange story helps me be compassionate with people who have hurt me. They have hurt inside, so that’s all they can give. My latest blogspot post is about asking who we really are (selfactualizedlife.) Bless you, Wayne.

Ted says:

I love this. Much needed as I am struggling with pessimism and cynicism during my job search. Thank you Wayne. God bless you!

Dennis says:

An orange looks “out” on an orange world, and fills itself with the only thing it thinks it sees. People do this too, not believing the inner makes the outer.

Dave says:

My wife and I were in Vancouver the same weekend as you. In Stanley park, we rode on the horse drawn wagon, ate dinner at the Tea House, and then watched a beautiful sunset. Thanks for your reminder that I have choice over what I let reside inside of me. Blessings, and thank you for the difference you have made in my life.