Last week a post, attributed to Sir Anthony Hopkins, one of the most revered actors of our day and time, and one whose work I admire greatly, came up on my FaceBook page. The poster noted that these words have not been verified but judging by other posts I’ve seen by Sir Anthony, I deem this one to be reliable.
I reposted the piece, then read it more closely, eventually taking it down. Here’s what it said, and here are my responses to it:
Let go of people who are not ready to love you. This is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do in your life and it will also be the most important thing…
But do not do so in haste. Be sure you’ve given them sufficient chance to love you.
Stop having difficult conversations with people who don’t want to change…
Listen first to their words and understand. Then respond in kindness, especially when you disagree.
Stop showing up for people who are not interested in your presence…
Keep showing up in kind and compassionate ways. We’re not responsible for others’ reactions, only our own.
I know your instinct is to do everything possible to gain the appreciation of those around you, but it’s an impulse that steals your time, energy, mental, and physical health…
Seek not to gain the appreciation of those around you, rather seek to fulfill a calling to your higher self.
When you start fighting for a life with joy, interest, and commitment, not everyone will be ready to follow you to that place…It doesn’t mean you have to change who you are, it means you have to let go of people who aren’t ready to be with you…
No. It means that you continue to follow a path of love and compassion and let those who aren’t ready to be with you fall away on their own.
If you are excluded, insulted, forgotten, or ignored by the people you give your time to, you are not doing yourself a favor by continuing to offer them your energy and your life…Truth is, you ain’t for everybody and everybody ain’t for you…
Continue to follow the right path as you know it and allow others to choose their own paths.
This is what makes it so special when you find people you have friendship with or mutual love…You will know how precious it is because you have experienced what is not…There are billions of people on this planet and many of them you will find at your level of interest and commitment… Maybe if you stop showing up, they won’t look for you…
Maybe if you continue to show up they will eventually look to you.
Maybe if you stop trying, the relationship ends…Maybe if you stop texting, your phone will stay dark for weeks…That doesn’t mean you ruined the relationship, it means the only thing sustaining it was the energy you only gave to keep it…That’s not love, that’s attachment…It’s giving a chance to those who don’t deserve it…You deserve so much more…
Who are we to judge who needs a chance and who doesn’t? And who are we to determine who deserves anything at all—good or evil?
The most valuable thing you have in your life is your time and energy, as both are limited…The people and things you give your time and energy to, will define your existence… When you realize this you start to understand why you are so anxious when you spend time with people, activities, or spaces that don’t suit you and shouldn’t be near you…You will start to realize that the most important thing you can do for yourself and everyone around you is to protect your energy more fiercely than anything else…
The people and things you give your time an energy to MAY define your existence. Give your time and energy to the ones who are in need and ignored by the masses. Give no thought to those who don’t understand this other than to continue to model the way of compassion for them. True love knows no limits.
Make your life a safe haven, where only people “compatible” with you are allowed…
Welcome those who don’t seem to be “compatible” with you. They may hold the greatest of your blessings.
You are not responsible for saving anyone…You are not responsible for convincing them to do better…It’s not your job to exist for people and give them your life…
You are responsible for living a life before others that can draw them onto a path of compassion, care, and understanding.
You deserve real friendships, true commitments and a complete love with healthy and prosperous people…Decision to distance yourself from toxic people, will give you the love, esteem, happiness and protection you deserve…
Do not fool yourself into thinking you “deserve” anything. You don’t. Beware of toxic people but open your door and your heart to them so they might see a different and better way of living. Even if you get nothing back from them but scorn, you will have sown the seeds of kindness, compassion, and love. That is, in and of itself, reward enough.
…and that’s the View from The Balcony.
Randy Weeks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Shamanic Life Coach, an ordained minister, a singer-songwriter, and an actor. Randy may be reached at randallsweeks@gmail.com.
