Excerpt
Tarry1978: We have to change the way that the leader of our group of friends sees us.
Mike1991: That's me. I'd like to think, but I can see the one person who has the most impact on my group of friends would be, and it's not the leader.
John2010: That's right, it's not always the leader that you need to change. It could be the one who has the most impact on that leader or the entire group. So you may need to take the group dynamic apart to see who you need to change.
Anna1983: Yes, and my friends have subgroups also. Like the order that my friends choose to ask each other out to a show or something.
Mike1991: Right, but that can change weekly.
John2010: That's right, but why do they change? That is what you need to learn, so you can control when and how they change.
Anna1983: That sounds hard to keep track of.
John2010: That is why I asked you to write these posts down, so you can see the big picture.
Amy1979: Yeah, and that should help make your friendships closer.
Tarry1978: That's right, and the closer you are, the easier it is to control them.
John2010: Yes, and what you want to control is how they see you, so that others see you as they see you. Now, I have had a rude wake-up call telling me that it does matter how a stranger sees me. You all should know why that matters, but if you don't, I'll tell you.
Anna1983: I care what a stranger thinks of me, because it's bad karma to think that anyone has bad thoughts about you.
Mike1991: Well, I have enough to worry about, let alone what someone I don't know thinks of me.
John2010: It matters what the strangers you pass daily say about you, because people talk to each other. I know you've heard of it: gossip. Rumors spread fast, and you never want a bad rumor to get out no matter how small it may seem to you, even if it's not true. If you can start a rumor, then you can change the world, or at least yours…
Tarry1978: Like the rumor that you're CCC. "Cool, Calm, and Collected."
Amy1979: Aren't you???
Alex1986: Sorry I'm late, but I was reading these posts and I think I get it now. My post is too short, but I see that I should be looking for the little things in all of my relationships. I should see what I need to change about myself.
John2010: I wasn't going to be that blunt, but yes. It's how you find it. You should want to change by seeing how you affect people.