Today's blog is by guest Stephen Schettini. Stephen was a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition for eight years before renouncing the security of institutional religion in 1982 and pursuing his own path.

Today Stephen teaches and writes about his mindful reflection™ path to peace and clarity.

Many of us find that our daily life is plagued with petty issues that have to do with another person—whether it’s a person at work, a neighbor, someone in our social life, or a family member.

When two people can’t get beyond bickering over an issue—or perhaps several issues, sometimes on a daily basis—the fundamental reason is that at some level they are experiencing resistance.

What’s at stake is our sense of self, which isn’t solid enough to be impacted by another’s statements or behavior without feeling threatened.