Dealing with the world

QUESTION: Masters, two people have moved into two different flats next door to me and like to play very loud music. This has disturbed what had been a peaceful sanctuary. I feel fear around this so know it must be a life lesson. I avoid confrontation but summoned up courage and asked them politely to be more considerate and turn it down—with little overall effect. What I am learning here? I know from a previous questioner that you cannot control people. I am trying to be more tolerant and also compassionate towards these people. I know nothing lasts forever so is it also about learning patience? My sister has breast cancer, so for me this should really be nothing, but I am finding it difficult to adjust and not react or judge. Is there past-life healing to be done? ~ Rex, England

ANSWER:  You are correct that these people are involved in a lesson with you. The only one you have to have concern for, though, is yourself. This has nothing to do with past-life issues; it is about how you see yourself in this life. You have been working very hard to balance your world, rid it of judgment, and not interact with others.

This lesson is partially about learning to deal with others in a positive, non-confrontational manner. Talking with others about something that bothers you, as long as you do so in a quiet, non-threatening manner, is not confrontational. This is about standing up for yourself because you know and accept you are as good and deserving as every other soul on the planet. This is having the courage to honor your own journey through this existence. It is refusing to be abused by those who don’t know or care what effect they are having on others.

A second aspect is learning to ignore what you don’t want to bother you. If you hate the sound of rain on a roof, no matter how insignificant the precipitation, you will be disturbed by its noise. If you allow yourself to get absorbed in a project such as work, a craft, or a book, you can block out even a thunder storm.

You don’t have to show tolerance or compassion for these noisy people. That is the same as saying that you are wrong, and you are not. It is choosing your battles and how you expend your energy to deal with life’s situations. You are doing great helping your sister through her problems; use some of that knowledge to get yourself through this inconvenience.