There have been a number of advertisements by the Mastercard company that display the difference between things that can be measured, and of those that cannot. It gives us a glimpse of what conforms to the space-time reality, and of what conforms to the reality of what is infinite and eternal.
In this particular advertisement, we see the care/love displayed by the animals to their keeper who is suffering from an illness. The elephant goes shopping to bring items that will help him to get better. We are told the measured price of each item, which displays evidence of things that can be measured. The clip then ends up identifying something that cannot be measured; in this case “making it all better – priceless.” What the clip displays is the realm of relationship; something that is eternal and infinite, i.e. not measurable in time and space.
Relationship dynamics involve interacting with someone as either friend or foe toward them, or considering the other as either friend or foe in how they relate to you. I consider relationship dynamics to be in the realm of the spiritual (all relationships; not limited to relationships with higher powers). In the above clip, the animals consider their keeper to be a friend, and they in turn relate in a friendly, kind way toward him, as seen by their benevolent acts for him when he is in need. It is said: “no man (or woman) is an island.” We do need one another, and our disposition to one another will be revealed sooner or later, whether we are relating with ourselves and others as friend or foe.
Alas, not all in life proceeds according to the above story. There are many complications, combinations, and permutations to this otherwise simple theme, and there are no guarantees that you and another person will relate with each other as friends. For example, a person may seemingly act in a friendly fashion toward another, but in fact is deceiving the other in order to get something that they desire. So really they are acting as a foe to the other, thinking only of being a friend to the self at the others’ expense.
Other examples of complications could arise in scenarios of alcohol or substance misuse. A person considers the substance to be a friend, when in reality the side effects of use show the substance to be an enemy, not only to the person using the substance, but also to others affected adversely by that persons’ misuse of the substance. There can be a dilemma in abstaining from the substance or activity in question: an internal battle regarding the substance being considered a friend or foe (spiritual parameter), apart from measured physical effects or chemical dependencies (physical parameter).
When we are upset or experience anger, it is as if our emotions are detecting dynamics within the spiritual parameters. For example: “I am angry because what you just did shows that you are against me.” If we respond to this scenario within the destructive mindset, we in turn can relate in a way that shows we are against them. We consider them an enemy, and may attempt to show them what an enemy is like by being an enemy to them. The result is likely to be further frustration, poor communication, and a lose-lose outcome.
But we can override this lose-lose outcome by forming the constructive mindset, in which we in turn relate to that individual as a friend rather than as a foe, even though our emotions detect an unfriendly act. We will be “for” them rather than against them (and be “for” ourselves as well). The outcome has more chance of being win-win. We will enjoy greater life satisfaction and fulfillment the more we train ourselves to form the constructive mindset and relate with ourselves and others as friends rather than as enemies. The rewards are infinite and eternal ; “Priceless.”
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