Author: Anne

This author has written 833 articles

CARING FOR OURSELVES…

When feeling badly about ourselves, we often try on other skins rather than understand and care for our own.  How much time is spent comparing ourselves to others, dead or alive?  When wounded and troubled, we sometimes feel compelled to puff ourselves up.  For in our pain, it seems to make sense that if we were larger, we would be harder to miss.  If we were larger, we’d have a better chance of being loved.  It is not surprising then that others need to be made smaller so we can maintain our illusion of seeming bigger than our pain.  But being human, we are often troubled and blocked by insecurity and a feeling of unworthiness.  The truth is the corrective story of how we return to who we are and compassion is the never ending story of how we embrace each other and forgive ourselves for not accepting our beautifully particular place in the fabric of our lives.  

FROM:  Mark Nepo  THE BOOK OF AWAKENING Having The Life You Want By Being Present To The Life You Have

REFLECTION:

  • How much time do you spend comparing yourself to others?
  • Do you try to make others feel small to create an illusion that you are ok?
  • Is there a truth about yourself you can embrace?
  • Is there compassion/forgiveness you can offer yourself?
  • How can you ACCEPT YOU … beautiful warts and all?

STRENGTH AND COURAGE

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Quote by Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu, also rendered as Laozi and Lao-Tze, was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism, and a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. (Source: Wikipedia)

REFLECTION:

  • Happy Valentine’s Day! 
  • I wish you strength and courage.
  • May you be deeply loved and love someone deeply today and always.

GIVING POWER TO THE VOICES OF THE WORLD

‘As long as I keep running about asking “Do you love me?   Do you really love me?”  I give all power to the voices of the world and put myself in bondage because the world is filled with “ifs.”  The world says: “Yes, I love you if you are good-looking, intelligent and wealthy.  I love you if you have a good education, a good job, and good connections.  I love you if you produce much, sell much, buy much.”  There are endless “ifs” hidden in the world’s love.  These “ifs” enslave me, since it is impossible to respond adequately to all of them.  The world’s love is and always will be conditional.  As long as I keep looking for my true self in the world of conditional love, I will remain “hooked” to the world – trying, failing, and trying again.  It is a world that fosters addictions because what it offers cannot satisfy the deepest craving of my heart.’

Quote by Henri Nouwen

Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (1932- 1996) was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. 

REFLECTION:

  • What “ifs” are part of your criteria for loving?
  • What is the deepest craving of your heart?
  • Write about it…. and when ready share with a loved one, a close friend.
  • BE BRAVE!