Out of Line?

Getting notice that another has thrown the foul flag at you, claiming that you are “out of line” provides a great opportunity to do a little inventory work.

Is the issue at hand being brought up because responses were inappropriate or because the information delivered does not fit in the others expectations?  And then, if we can be honest with ourselves, can we admit that perhaps the answer is most likely in the gray area that includes a little bit of both possibilities.

Often times emotional responses can be viewed as out of line simply because the anger, disgust, passion or whatever that they contain is more than the other party is willing to allow for.  Does that mean we should not be emotional?

Often times simply responding in a manner that is not the other persons expectations is to step out of line, but in these cases it’s the line that the other is using is simply to try and control the interaction. Do you remember the amount of energy that was spent by the adults in Elementary School teaching the students to stay in line?

Yet, I’m struck by the fact that all innovators must step out of line.  I guess I’d go so far as to say that everyone called by the deep pull of what Jung calls individuation must, by it’s very definition, step out of line.

Hmm…where are you in relationship to the ordered lines that want to herd you these days?