Referring back to our friend Monica for a moment, if she does not express her feelings to her friend Suzy, as in telling her, gently of course, that she needs time to herself, energy created by her thoughts will become repressed. This can manifest as illness/disease or even a cold, depression, a bad mood. The energy needs to go somewhere.

Why do we say nothing, anyways? Is it ultimately beneficial to our progression?

We say nothing to avoid pain, to avoid a confrontation. We say nothing to avoid hurting a friends' feelings. We say nothing in a belief that it takes more energy to speak out. We say nothing in a misguided effort to conserve our already depleted energy.

Carlos Castaneda said, "Whether we improve ourselves or stay same, it takes same amount of energy." Since neither option saves energy over other, why not just do it?

We are each in control of our own lives. This privilege comes with a responsibility for our actions. To lead a successful life, we need to challenge ourselves. We need to continuously examine our lives and push our limitations.

We are only ones who can break through our own limitations. It's our own work to do in this world. So by all means, say nothing, have appearance of being nonassertive, however, if you choose this path, examine your motive, examine your method. Do everything in life on purpose.

Strive to rise above it, do not take their comments personally, for they are simply coming from results of their past history. It really has very little to do with you and Now.

The flip side of these situations is to be aware of when we may be squashing someone else's dreams. Have you caught yourself saying 'no way' to someone else's dreams? Or being less than enthusiastic when someone shares a bright idea? Sometimes we inadvertently squash our kids' dreams in an effort to 'protect' them from being hurt. The logic behind this is to disappoint them before someone else does. Who are we to say where our kid's dreams lay? It is a process they are undergoing. It is how they determine FOR THEMSELVES who they are, what they desire out of life.

Say your child shows a strong interest in skateboarding. He - and I mean no gender bias, it's just relative to my life and will make this read better - is passionate about it. Does it 24/7. Eats, sleeps, breathes it. Only ever wants to skate like wind. Because of your own conditioning, this may not be your dream for your child. You may believe he can do so much more with his life. I don't feel this way about skateboarding, by way, but some adults do. Back to story...

He may or may not desire to become a world class skateboarder. He may be unaware a desire could be felt so strongly about anything. It's process that matters. In loving skateboarding - or whatever - he is learning what it feels like to get to know himself. He is learning how to care about something so much it makes him ache. He is also learning about his world and how he is accepted in it based on his love of something, his desires.

It is so vitally important that we accept people, our little clones included, for their spirit. Not what they believe in. Not what they love or don't love. Not what they look like. Or don't look like. This is what we expect from others, don't we?