Maitri. What does it mean? It is a Sanskrit word, which roughly translates into friendliness, kindness and compassion.

It is used in the context of the process of developing loving kindness or compassion towards oneself.

It describes the journey of self-discovery that each of us must embark on, at some time in our lives, to learn how to finally appreciate and make friends with ourselves.  To be free, at last, to live a happier, more fulfilling life. To live the life we want. To live the life we all deserve. A life of purpose and meaning.

For many of us, our search for self-understanding, self-compassion and self-respect can be daunting and overwhelming. This can make it more difficult to break through whatever is holding us back from becoming our true selves.

Perhaps, we really are wired for struggle as Brené Brown explains. And perhaps part of our hard-wired struggle is that we look for answers in all the wrong places.

Consider…

“It wasn’t long after the Creator had designed humankind that an important oversight emerged…

The beings the Creator had produced were so skilful, so full of curiosity and the spirit of inquiry that it was only a matter of time before they would start to challenge the Creator for supremacy.

To ensure that this could not happen, the Creator held a large conference to discuss the issue. Elders from all over the world were invited  to discuss this looming problem and the debates were both long and soul-searching.

All the Elders were very clear about one thing: the difference between the Creator and humans was simply the quality of resources available. While humans understood the external, material aspects of the world, the Creator had an understanding of the inner workings of human beings.

In humankind’s continual search for greater knowledge and understanding, the danger was that, sooner or later, people would also want what the Creator had.

And so, after long debate, the decision about how to tackle this problem was finally made … the Creator would need to hide this precious gift. The question, naturally, was where to hide it so that it wouldn’t be discovered…

Some Elders suggested hiding these resources at the top of the highest mountain.

But they realised that sooner or later the humans would climb such a mountain.

And the deepest crater in the deepest ocean would be discovered.

And mines would be sunk into the earth.

And the thickest jungles would give up their secrets.

And mechanical birds would explore the sky and space.

And the moon and the planets would become tourist destinations.

And even the wisest and most creative of the Elders eventually fell silent as they realised that every possibility had been explored and found wanting.

Until the eldest Elder, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

‘Why don’t you hide this resource inside each human being because they will never think to look for it there?’ And so … it was done.”

(Adapted by Monique Stock from a story in The Magic of Metaphor by Nick Owen)

Could this explain the source of our struggle for purpose and meaning in our lives?

This struggle is the reason why Change Dynamics recently launched the Maitri Self-Development Programme^©. It’s been carefully designed to guide and support our participants while they explore and discover their maitri.

Our programme runs over 5 consecutive days and is an intimate, in-depth, and highly-experiential programme, expertly facilitated in small groups to promote a safe, but engaging, learning process for our participants.

Change Dynamics’ Maitri Self-Development Programme^© provides participants with practical and easy-to-use tools to achieve greater joy in their lives by developing their: –

• Self-insight.
• Self-compassion.
• Self-appreciation and self-love.
• Ability to respect and befriend themselves.

According to Douglas Merrill time is life, so when we waste our time, in reality we are wasting our life. Please don’t be that person…the person wasting their life; the person who gave up on their dreams of who they wanted to be…before the world told them what they could or should be.

Yes, change is scary. But, you know what’s scarier? Regret

Why not contact one of the Change Dynamics team to find out more about the programme?

After all is said and done, when will now be the right time to take massive, committed action to invest in yourself?

Meet our team: –

Monique: 082 321 1187 or monique@changedynamics.org.za

Steve: 082 439 8043 or steve@changedynamics.org.za

Ian: 082 325 5681 or ian@changedynamics.org.za

Matthew: 082 043 3293 or matthew@changedynamics.org.za

Chanté: 076 568 7607 or chante@changedynamics.org.za

We look forward to hearing from you…

To Your Greatness 💫