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?