How the people around us help or hinder our spiritual journey and our responses.

[Artizi]

Yes, it does affect you. I have found these lies may lead you down a road you weren't meant to go. It may led to self deception. The interactions with those around us are important, so if they are tainted by lies they will affect consciously and unconsciously.

I agree.Being influenced by those around us Is entirely inevitable yet one must try to decide what Is useful to keep and shar should be discarded.

[Uinto]

Spiritual matters are personal because they are quite subjective. So I really feel that the author's parents had a lot of influence in the religious path he later took.

[imSunshine]

ofcourse that played a big part of his entire life.

[Dragonsend]

I think his parents were honest with their answers, and I liked how they responded. I do however feel like sometimes we take things to heart. Things we can't control and shouldn't try to control. That lie however really did destroy him more than I would have liked.

That lie really did tear him down, here is my OPINION, when you are trying to be the best person that you can be and you allow someone to get away with the "little things" then those things pile up on you. The example in this book tells the truth about letting people abuse your kindness. Usually it hurts you more than it does them. Then there is another truth here as well, those "little things" usually hide a deeper problem. Thank you for your response!

[Dragonsend]

ofcourse that played a big part of his entire life.

I'm sure that Richard found himself in other situations of this nature at other times in his life. Obviously as he matured he handled them in more mature ways!

[Balazon2000]

We learn everything fron those around us. How to interact with each other, especially what we believe. When younger we go to Sunday school and as we grow we take what we learn and apply it to our daily lives.

If we are around positive peopke we tend to reflect that. The same is true when around negativity.

[imSunshine]

ofcourse that played a big part of his entire life.

I'm sure that Richard found himself in other situations of this nature at other times in his life. Obviously as he matured he handled them in more mature ways!

Yes I agree..everybody can handle themselves in their own way

[NIRUPAMA JHA]

A person is always influenced by people around. Although i believe that the soul finds its true place sooner or later but still the environment affects the time it would take to start our spiritual journey.

[Dragonsend]

I hope that every one can find their road to enlightenment. A spiritual journey is so deeply personal and some don't like to dig deep.

[eastandalchemy]

I think people are absolutely molded by the people we surround ourselves with, but even more so as a child. As we get older we can learn how to protect ourselves from the negativity of others and decipher truth from lies, but I believe it still takes a toll on the psyche.

[Maria-Goretti Amarachi Okechi - Catherine]

I think that as humans we are greatly influenced by people around us, we get to believe most of the things they tell us and sometimes if the things they tell us is lies, we also believe them and this sometimes leads us astray. I think allowing someone to lie to us can really do bad to our spiritual life.

[Van112]

Everything that happens to us is a matter of response and reaction. Richard's actions had a purpose, he was meant to experience those events in his life to help shape him better.

[Dragonsend]

I think people are absolutely molded by the people we surround ourselves with, but even more so as a child. As we get older we can learn how to protect ourselves from the negativity of others and decipher truth from lies, but I believe it still takes a toll on the psyche.

Beautiful answer. Thank you!

[Dragonsend]

I think that as humans we are greatly influenced by people around us, we get to believe most of the things they tell us and sometimes if the things they tell us is lies, we also believe them and this sometimes leads us astray. I think allowing someone to lie to us can really do bad to our spiritual life.

You said a mouthful, who wants to waste time on figure out the truth from a lie. Draining!

[Dragonsend]

Everything that happens to us is a matter of response and reaction. Richard's actions had a purpose, he was meant to experience those events in his life to help shape him better.

I too am happy that he could rise above.