Author: Anne

This author has written 833 articles

A RICH LIFE

Painting by Vincent Van Gogh Cafe De Terrace

“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

Quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 -1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity’s role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic. He died in Flossenburg Concentration camp, Germany.

 

REFLECTION:

  • Examining your life, do you receive more than you give?
  • How can you practice more gratitude?
  • Make a list of all the things you have received recently.  If so inclined, draw a T Bar and list Give on one side and Receive on the other.  Complete the list.  Say THANK YOU!

RETURNING TO 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 this life.  

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

REFLECTION:

  • Do you try to make yourself larger by making others feel smaller?
  • Is there a wound underneath that puffed up sense of self?
  • How can you tell the truth of what you are feeling and have compassion?
  • Can you forgive yourself?

INTRINSIC WORTH

To have that sense of one’s intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything.

Quote by Joan Didion  

Joan died on December 23rd, 2021 (b.1934 – 87 years old).   She was an American novelist and essayist known for her lucid prose style and incisive depictions of social unrest and psychological fragmentation. You may know her from her award winning memoir book:  The Year Of Magical Thinking

REFLECTION:

  • Do you possess an intrinsic self worth? (Answer honestly)
  • What do you need to do to increase you own self worth … increase your self respect?
  • What does self-respect look like?  How do you treat yourself?  How do others treat you?
  • Explore this