What happens when you squeeze an orange?

I found myself looking up a motivational speaker today, based on the mention of his inspirational quotes from someone else.  Dr Wayne Dyer is an internationally recognized author and speaker in the field of self-development.  I happened upon a blog he had written in May (http://www.drwaynedyer.com/blog/why-the-inside-matters) and chose to share a story he wrote about.

Dr Dyer discusses a conversation he had with a young boy of about 12 at a conference.  He had an orange on stage as a prop and asked the boy what would happen if he squeezed it.  The boy states the obvious, juice, but then is questioned about what kind of juice and how he knows it would make orange juice and not the juice of some other fruit.  Dr Dyer then goes on to say, “Let’s assume that this orange isn’t an orange, but it’s you. And someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, says something you don’t like, offends you. And out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, fear. Why? The answer, as our young friend has told us, is because that’s what’s inside.”

This story made me stop and think.  When someone puts pressure on me, says something I don't like, or offends me, what comes out of me?  Is it anger, hatred, bitterness, fear?  I will admit that I am distraught in thinking that those types of feelings are inside me instead of other more positive ones like forgiveness or unconditional love of others, because I could definitely see myself getting angry at someone who offended me.

So how do I go about changing what's inside me?  How to I take those common and undesireable reactions and replace them with good and kind and gentle feelings?  If I sit here and brainstorm for long enough, I can imagine that doing the same (thinking) when someone says something I don't like (instead of automatically responding angrily) and coming up with forgiveness for their incorrect judgments.  Is it enough to feel sadness for their inability to find the good in me?  Or perhaps that shows my inability to find the good in them or to share the good in me with them.

Dr Dyer says to replace everything inside with love, that love is all you should allow inside of yourself.  What a challenge he brings!