
01/07/2025
Seeing family bonds break because of manipulation is a deep, often unspoken form of emotional abuse.
It’s something I’ve experienced, and witnessed it affecting people I know, as well as those I meet in clinic. My Teacher likes to remind us (Dao students) “Stay pure in your hearts.” It’s an easy and simple statement, but very difficult for many to work towards. Reflecting: if we can’t keep it peaceful within family how can we expect peaceful borders?
In the face of emotional turmoil whether in family or on a larger scale it’s easy to get jaded, lose faith, or feel like fighting back is the only way to protect yourself. Maintaining inner peace/ purity, as hard as that is, can be a key to breaking cycles of toxicity and manipulation.
If we struggle to cultivate peace and honesty within our closest circles/family/tribe, how can we hope to create that on a global scale? It has to start with the small, personal spaces. The effort to keep a peaceful heart could make all the difference, not just for us, but for those around us.