Our Relationships with Other People
In the first article, we explored our relationship with our body — the temple where our consciousness dwells and expresses itself. We understood that caring for it with attention is the first step towards inner harmony. Now we look at the next step: to observe our relationships with other people, in other words, with the world around us.
Every encounter, every circumstance, every word spoken reflects our inner state. What we experience outside is, in reality, a mirror of what occurs within.
We often believe that our suffering or unhappiness are caused by other people. Yet Gnosis teaches that the world is not against us; it simply reflects our own emotions, thoughts and desires back to us.
Master Samael Aun Weor, in Revolutionary Psychology, writes:
“We are always victims of circumstances; it is unfortunate that we have not yet learned to consciously originate circumstances.”
Comprehending this transforms the way we live. To relate consciously with the world means to observe what we feel towards each person and each event. The real inner work begins there. It is only when we learn to perceive what we project onto others that we can transform our way of acting and awaken a new way of being.
How Our Relationships with the World Manifests
Our relationships with other people is a reflection of our inner world, though we seldom realise it. The affinities, rejections or tensions we experience do not depend solely on others, but also on our own psychological states.
We live surrounded by people, yet often without genuine connection. We act from habits, from the desire for approval, from fear of rejection. In that state, we forget our inner presence and relationships become mechanical, lacking true comprehension.
When our thoughts and emotions are in disorder, we naturally resonate with people and situations that mirror that same imbalance. To comprehend our relationships with people we must observe how we react and what we feel in our interactions with them.
Every relationship is an opportunity for self-discovery. A conflict, a harsh word or an intense emotion can reveal as yet unrecognised aspects of our own ego. We constantly judge those around us, and that is why many relationships end up being so difficult.
Why Our Inner States Affect Our Relationships with People?
Every human encounter is a mirror. What we carry within — anger, fear, pride, or tenderness — inevitably reflects itself in our relationships. When the ego is in charge, we project our conflicts onto others and end up seeing enemies where in fact there are only reflections of our own mind.
Our reactions depend less on what others do and more on the inner state from which we perceive them. If we are filled with tension or resentment, even a neutral gesture can seem offensive. But when we cultivate serenity and understanding, the same situation becomes an opportunity to practise awareness and conscious love.
If we wish to transform our relationships with other people, we must begin by observing our emotional states.
This understanding brings freedom. We no longer blame others for what we feel but recognise, in every interaction, a chance for self-knowledge. Thus, our relationships with other people cease to be a battlefield and become instead a field of inner work and conscious transformation.
How to Transform our Relationships with Other People through Consciousness
Understanding the cause of our conflicts is not enough. To transform our relationships with people, we must begin with self-observation. Only by seeing our own inner states — without justification or condemnation — can we stop reacting mechanically.
Self-observation reveals the “I” that feels hurt, demands attention, or insists on being right. Each time we observe it without identifying with it, we weaken its power. Then, our relationships with others become clearer and calmer, for we act not from the ego, but from consciousness.
Master Samael Aun Weor teaches that “practical life is a school where the human being can discover himself.” The people around us are mirrors that reveal our level of inner work. Whatever we criticise or reject in others is, in truth, a chance to know ourselves more deeply.
Transforming our relationships with people does not mean being a pushover or pretending to be nice — it means being awake. It means learning to respond instead of react. In that state of presence, comprehension arises. And, through comprehension, conscious love, which is neither emotional nor passionate, begins to guide our actions.
Practices to Transform our Relationships with Other People
Understanding the mechanisms of the ego in our relationships is only the beginning. True transformation comes when understanding becomes daily practice. Every human encounter can be an exercise in self-knowledge if we live with attention and self-remembering.
These simple practices can help you transform your relationships with people through consciousness, rather than reaction:
- Observe Your Inner Talk
Before speaking or replying, notice the thoughts that arise. Are you judging, justifying or making assumptions what the other person is thinking? This inner chatter creates distance and distorts perception. Observing it without judgement allows you to listen clearly and connect from consciousness.
- Learn to Listen by Living in the Present
True listening means being fully here and now. It is not waiting for your turn to speak, but opening yourself to the other without defensiveness or judgement. When you listen with conscious attention, dialogue becomes a space for mutual understanding, not a competition to be right and have the last word.
- Practise Self-Observation
During conversations, observe your emotions, desires, or impulses. Notice how your body reacts — a feeling of tension, a gesture, a glance. Recognising these inner movements is discovering the ego in action. That silent observation marks the beginning of change.
- Use Words Wisely
Every word carries power. Speaking with consciousness means choosing expressions that are constructive rather than hurtful. Before responding, ask yourself whether your words arise from the ego or from the Being. Sometimes, a timely silence says more than a thousand impulsive words.
- Remember Yourself
In any relationship, remember that you are not your emotions or your thoughts. That moment of inner recollection restores serenity and clarity, allowing you to act with balance. When self-remembering is present, every relationship becomes an opportunity to awaken.
- Meditate
Meditation is not about posture or technique. It is reaching a state of inner and outer serenity that allows us to reflect on our own behaviour and how to improve. In that conscious silence, emotions settle, the mind becomes still, and deep comprehension arises, transforming the way we relate to others.
To explore this further, see our article: Meditation as a Practice to Eliminate the Ego.
A Conscious Relationship That Begins Today
Our relationships with people are the mirrors that reveal our inner world. Through them, we learn to see both our virtues and our defects. The goal is not to change others but to learn to look at ourselves through them, sincerely and with presence.
When we cultivate a conscious relationship with those around us, we stop reacting mechanically and begin to act with understanding. Words become clearer, listening deeper and living together is more harmonious. Then, our relationships with other people become a true school where the ego dissolves and consciousness expresses itself with serenity.
This transformation is gradual, yet each conscious gesture opens a space for harmony. Every time you choose to observe instead of react — to remember instead of forget — you strengthen your connection with your inner essence. Thus, the outer world stops being a problem and instead becomes a reflection of your inner work.
Next Step on Your Path of Self-Knowledge
This article is part of a series concerned with balancing the three fundamental relationships of human life.
In Article I, we explored the relationship with our body — the starting point of wellbeing and the foundation of self-knowledge.
In Article II, we have deepened our understanding of our relationships with other people, where daily interaction becomes a means for awakening consciousness and studying the ego.
In Article III, we will explore our relationship with ourself — the deepest relationship of all — where self-remembering becomes the master key to dissolve inner conflict and attain true peace.
If this topic resonated with you, share it and subscribe to our blog to receive future articles and continue your journey of self-knowledge with our community.
Subscribe to our blog!
