Page 58 - Tree of Happiness

Lack of these skills leads to few friends or to the use of manipulation and intimidation to maintain the illusion of friends. It is very important in this story, as it is in real life, to get others to work with you, to be your friends because they want to, not because you “bribe or threaten them.”
It would be nice if all those who are important to us would wish to help us do the things we know we must do to be happy. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. In Part Two, the Queen’s Advisors were not supportive of her efforts to raise an army or of running off the dragon.
As in Part One, the story illustrates that others may not always support you when you do what is in your best self-interest. Consequently, it is important to learn how to accurately evaluate a situation, plan a strategy and then stick with it.
When the Queen faced the Dragon, it turned and ran away. Most situations we fear become scarier the more we avoid them. Once faced, they usually turn out to be very manageable and then we can’t imagine why we were so afraid of them.
Understanding that Dragons (personal fears) are to be faced and not avoided, is a very difficult and demanding lesson. The skill necessary to face these fears is your ability to use ‘coping self-messages.’ This skill takes much practice.
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