Monday, August 03, 2009

Acceptance

I don't know if I can do this. I'm not much better but a little. The meds my psycho-iatrist gave me have helped a little, but I still have a hard time "soothing" my brain. It always feels disruptive and a bit like ADD. It's a mad world.

In any case, I was reading the meditation for today and though it was pertinent to me. It was about how we always like one thing, but don't stop to consider it's flip side. For every positive we get in our life there is bound to be a a negative.

For example, a couple plants a beautiful shady tree in their backyard. They enjoy the shade and coolness of the big branches and leaves. Then winter comes and the leaves have turned brown and have fallen to the ground. The couple gets upset because their beautiful shady tree has turned into a mess of work to get all the rotting leaves up off the ground that was spoiling their outside time.

The point is, there is always a flip-side to what we like most. If we translate this to our human relationships, for what we like most in another person, there is always an undesirable trait. That's just human nature. It doesn't mean we should give up our relationship. It means people are what they are. We are our height, we our race, we are our backgrounds. To take all of Nature's gifts in people and then complain about the downside is simply foolish and maybe a little immature.

The flip arguement can be made for ourselves. We are all endowed with incredible gifts in ourselves. To think that we are all bad and have nothing to offer is rediculous. We have the same traits as others. We have things to offer and things we'd rather keep hidden.

Point is, self esteem is not based on our changing but accepting what we are.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

True that!

Problem is that while we are struggling to accept that which was forced upon us, society tells us we are scourges of the earth.

Double-edged sword.

I think we all have a great deal to offer. I have actually been overwhelmed with reading blogs and then going back and applying something to my past and seeing how it fits into the present and future. We all have the gift of seeing life as it is - not as it should be. We don't walk thru our lives pretending things - for the most part.

I'm glad you are better...

Anonymous said...

The tree is a great analogy. And you're right - we don't stop to think of the flip side. We are a people of pleasure seeking - the flip side often doesn't count until we have to deal with it. Sad.

I hope you are feeling better. Thots are with you.

Anonymous said...

Where are you?

Are you okay?

Wandering Coyote said...

Hey there - haven't heard from you in a little bit and am just checking in to see if you're OK. Hope all is well.

Anonymous said...

Yes, we must accept ourselves. The most difficult part is that the bad people in our lives have convinced us we have nothing to offer except what they need. They trick us into believing we are less than everyone else and worthy only for abuse. It is difficult to over come.

You are strong, you need only to out last the bad feelings.

Wandering Coyote said...

It's the end of Sept. and I just wanted to check in & say hi! Hope you're OK.

Anonymous said...

Where are you? Are you okay?

I've missed reading your posts.