3 truths to get to greater peace, clarity and personal empowerment.
Byron Katie’s concept of “three businesses” refers to a foundational principle in her teachings about personal responsibility and the nature of our thoughts and emotions. Our thinking and out feeling.
The three businesses are:
- Your Business: this includes everything that you can control our influence, such as your thoughts, feelings, actions and responses. It’s about recognising what is truly within your sphere of influence and taking responsibility for your own life.
- Their Business, or other people’s business: this incompasses everything that is outside of your control, including other people’s thoughts, feelings, actions and opinions. This includes other people’s opinion about you. When you find yourself preoccupied with what others think or do, you’re engaging in their business – not yours.
- God’s Business, or Life’s business: this refers to the events and circumstances in the world that are beyond anyone’s control, including nature, politics, and societal issues. It’s about accepting that there are elements of life that happen independently of our desires and understandings.
By distinguishing between these three businesses, we are encouraged to focus our energy on our own thoughts, actions and responses, rather than getting caught up in the uncontrollable aspects of life or the actions of others. This awareness leads us to greater peace, clarity and personal empowerment.
This does not mean that we should put our head in the sand, that we can not have opinions, preferences or seeking to influence the world around us. Rather, gives us a sense of empowerment, that we CAN do this by influencing ourselves first.
Let’s keep paying attention to our habits, words, actions and responses. Let us stay present and be the change we want to see.
I trust this is helpful in navigating your life.
With love and best wishes for a most joyful festive and summer season.