Isn’t it funny how many of us feel guilty whenever we do something nurturing for our self or feel like we are doing something wrong when we put our self first? Many of us feel selfish when we even think of our self before anyone else. Why do we do this? And how do we get out of this pattern?
It seems sometimes like we “give” so much to others – even to our own detriment – that eventually we get resentful that no one does the same for us. Many people who are terribly compassionate to others (to the point of martyrdom) or who have a desire to please others to be liked tend to fall prey to this a great deal of the time if they are not careful. How can we say no to others? Aren’t we taught that we should “Do unto others as we would have others do unto us?” How about “You are your brother’s keeper”? Yikes!
It is important to have AS MUCH love and compassion for your self as you have for anyone else. Otherwise you will be out of balance. When you realize that you are but a reflection of the other person AND that they are a reflection of you, then you begin to see that – if you do not have compassion for your self in a given situation – you really do not have compassion for anyone else anyway (since you are a reflection of them!).
What about when we feel that others do not show us the love or respect we think they should be showing us? We can’t change anyone else or live anyone’s life for them… we can only change our own self (our perceptions) and be a role model. How about modeling a little self-love so that others can begin to show us the reality (as a mirror) that is our intention? Remember that we are powerful creators in our own life. Once we sent our love out for our own self BALANCED with the love that we send out for others, then we will begin to attract to us people, relationships and situations that reflect mutual love, respect and compassion.
How cool would that be?!!!
Loads of Love and Light to you all! And to us too! 🙂
Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.
Tags: Body/Mind/Spirit, Consciousness, Holistic Living, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Marion Ross Ph.D., Tracy Latz M.D., Transformation
Shiftyourlife's Blog by Tracy Latz & Marion Ross 
May 21, 2009 at 10:19 pm |
Very well said.
We teach people how to treat us by showing them how we treat ourselves. If the people you are around you always see you putting yourself last, they are going to put you last. That’s not to say it’s intentional, but we pick up things subconsciously when we are not present in the moment to see them consciously and those subconscious messages stick.
Show yourself love and respect and compassion and others will be more likely to see that you indeed are deserving of those things – and we all are.
May 22, 2009 at 2:01 am |
You are so right, Mark. We have such a profound effect on what and whom we attract into our life daily. The external world will most often mirror to us something that we are also creating within our own self…. it is the true meaning of “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” or “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me”.
Loads of Light,
Tracy Latz
May 23, 2009 at 3:20 am |
Great post. One of the best expositions of this topic (for me) is in the Potent Self by Moshe Feldenkrais. I try to read it every so often. It’s a tricky beast. Still deal with it myself, from time to time….
More I could say, but on my way out the door…
– Ryan
May 23, 2009 at 12:33 pm |
I haven’t read that, Ryan. I will definitely have to check it out.