An "interesting fellow" repeated some "advice for the ages" with the words "and love you neighbor as yourself", these words have been around for a long time.
Yet getting into the mode is not nearly as easy as it is important.
The implication is that "I love myself" and further more that is the guide for loving my neighbor.
But what would happen if you "loved" your neighbor as you "love" yourself.
1. I am my own worst critic.
2. My expectations for me are very high.
3. I jump my case, judging myself much more harshly than I would ever judge a friend.
4. I don't take time to "love myself" with actions.
5. I often put everyone and everything ahead of me to my own detriment.
6. I don't set priorities, I let things happen. I don't set my own schedule.
Often times we are our own worst critics; being self critical reflects on how we treat people around us.
To restate, how I feel about myself shows up in my interactions with others.
I am just posting here to begin this process of "loving myself" so I can obey that old advice of "loving my neighbor as myself."
I'm afraid if I treated my neighbor like I do me they'd be sorta pissed at me :)
5 comments:
what an interesting take on 'love your neighbour as you love yourself'. what you say makes perfect sense, 'cause if i expected from my neighbour what i expect from myself, i'd be constantly disappointed and let down. i think i'll stick to accepting people for who they are and believing the best about them (until proven otherwise...)
well... the idea was... to look at how you "treat your neighbor" and use that as a "good standard" for loving yourself...
too difficult? Something to think on...
aaah, give yourself a break in other words???
i don't know if it's as simple as a break... hmmm
i am pondering -- i think it just means a reality check-
judgment is on the teeter totter with grace (mercy) - no judgment, no mercy and vice versa...
sooooo.... just realize when you are passing judgment - there must - for the sake of balance in the universe - be a large measure of mercy to go with it...
greater judgment... greater mercy
I look at the point of loving yourself in two different ways. Maybe loving yourself is something to aim for.
Aim to think more highly yourself.
Aim to give yourself rest.
Aim to not judge yourself to harshly.
Aim to have mercy on yourself.
Aim to know that your mistakes are very rarely fatal.
Aim to know that people think you are better than you realise.
Hmmm...Can we see ourselves objectively? I don't think I can. I see my flaws shining brightly as if they are the headlights of an oncoming locomotion and if I make enough mistakes, I will certainly be crushed under the wheels of the 500 ton train.
The other way of looking at it is by using a study Bible and finding out the meaning behind the verse as it was originally written in ancient Greek. (yes, I know...I cheated) According to my notes that the word Love in this passage us the Greek verb agapao which means the commitment of devotion that is directed by the will and can be commanded as a duty. In other words, we are told it is our duty to love ourselves. Okay...now that is even tougher. But it comes hot on the heals of the command to love God with every part of ourselves. Can we do one without the other? I don't know.
Post a Comment