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Like and Dislike

The concepts of like and dislike reflect emotions and judgments of a purely personality nature. They refer to compatibility of character, qualities, behaviours, styles, etc. They have nothing to do with soul, except as an indicator that some qualities are needed to be expressed.

The more different someone is from ourselves as personalities, the less we automatically like them or are attracted to them, because we can’t relate to them. The personality can only relate to what it has experienced. We are sometimes fascinated by those who are very different from ourselves, but that is not “like”. It is fascination.

The personality always functions from a place of “being right”. When others disagree with us, our personality often will perceive this as a challenge to our rightness. It may interpret the lack of agreement as an accusation of being wrong. When this is experienced either a defence mechanism will be activated and we judge the other as someone we don’t like and/or don’t want to continue to interact with, or we try to win them over (i.e., get them to agree with us, see our point of view, etc.) so that we can live peacefully with them.

The only way to overcome dislike, and even not to be biased by what we like, is to transcend this personality duality and perceive the truth or the essence of someone or something. That means soul perception or intuitive perception – a soul perspective of respect, tolerance and understanding.

Transcending Like and Dislike

The only effective and appropriate way to relate to differences that cause dislike is from the soul state of expanded consciousness whereby we can feel and know the other for themselves, independent of our own personal position. The first thing to do is to suspend judgment.

When we relate to others from a soul level we relate to them primarily as souls – and here we find we are totally similar. From this perspective, and with the understanding and love that this implies we are able to accept their personalities and relate to them without undue difficulty and without judgment.

There are certain qualities of soul that need to be cultivated in order to take and maintain a soul perspective toward someone you do not like:

a.) patience
b.) understanding
c.) appreciation of difference
d.) recognition of innate divinity
e.) recognition of uniqueness
f.) valuing and empowerment of uniqueness

With these qualities present in your relationships the question of like or dislike will not arise, because the more inclusive reality of understanding and love will dominate.

Exercises: 1. What usual defence mechanisms do you use when you encounter people you do not like? (avoidance, antagonism, controlling, denial, etc.) 2. When not using a defence mechanism, how do you work with people you do not like or that you find difficult? 3. Think of specific relationships that are part of your life where a greater understanding, acceptance and love are needed. Resolve to approach these relationships in a new, soul-centered way.

This is one of 150 Soul Perspective articles. For more articles visit Soul Perspectives Index.

Andrew and Bonnie Schneider are now offering personal interactive email coaching for the 4 Level Soul Journey program. Connect weekly with Andrew and Bonnie on how to develop soul consciousness. Read more about this personal coaching from Andrew and Bonnie Schneider by clicking here.