It is very draining and heartbreaking to have every single person you love programmed to the hilt and heading for destruction.
I can practice strategic enclosure for the most part, but how can we stop the draining of our own energy when witnessing family and friends partaking of the madness?
My family and I have more or less agreed to disagree; we do have great affection for another, but lately I've been attacked for my diet, called a vitamin addict (now I take them when no one is around, tricky, because 4-5 people live with me), being a smoker, etc.,etc.,
I can understand this being a very difficult situation. If you are feeling drained watching your loved ones behave like that, then I guess you have to do your best not to be identified with the choices they make. That doesn't mean you shouldn't care or try to help them see things a little more clearly, but do so without expectation and knowing that they will very likely reject your help. If you're not identified with their choices and have accepted that they will learn their lessons in the way they have chosen (no matter how painful that might be), then you can help stop the draining of energy. One of the things the C's said a while ago is something I try to keep in mind in these kinds of difficult situations: "STS does not become STO by determining the needs of others." We have to be emotionally prepared to let our loved ones make their own decisions and use their free will to learn lessons. If we don't, the result is often what you report: a feeling of being drained of energy.
cassandra, I second Beau's words. If my own experience is anything to go by, it's not them who is draining you, it's your identification with their actions that's causing your energy leaks. I agree that it's heartbreaking to watch those you love proceed further along the path of destruction but this is the choice they made. Our trying to determine their needs for them is as much STS as their wilful ignorance and choice not to see the truth.
As you probably remember from the Wave, the soul isn't an infant at this stage. Who our family members are in this life is a result of consistent choices made, or failed to make, over many lifetimes before. I really doubt those choices can be reversed just becuase
we don't like them, or because
we know where they lead.
It's incredibly painful to watch my own Mother slip into the matrix web, but I decided to focus on giving her the best possible experience of me during the time I still have with her. I gave her what she waned, and what she always asked for: a daughter who is helpful, caring, sweet and nice to be around. Well, within the limits of my capability, I ain't no angel and I'm still one heck of a 'work in progress'
This way, on the day me and her part ways for the very last time, I will be able to remember nice moments we spent together, bike rides, phone calls, and silly chats that made both of us laugh. Not arguing about Putin, diet and the state of the world, that hurt her, made her feel rejected, judged and unloved.
I understand it may not change her destiny, but I do feel it helps me act in favour of my own.
