How do you see yourself?
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
August 8, 2009 11:20am CST
Many years ago Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet wrote "O would some power the gift to give us, to see ourselves as others see us". This line has become probably the most quoted of all his poetry, and often with good reason. While it is never good to deride ourselves and good self-esteem and self-love is important, I think that few of us see the faults in ourselves that we see in others. That doesn't mean that we can't love ourselves, just that we accept ourselves as we do our family and friends, "warts and all". Everyone needs to work on self improvement. What are your thoughts?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@thokius (426)
• Austria
9 Aug 09
Hello Pose123,
"You must understand yourself before you can understand others!" That is one of the beliefs of the Shaolin monks. You are correct. We can always improve ourselves more but first we need to understand ourselves. I am currently trying to learn as much as possible about myself and my ancestors through the halogenic and genetic memory. Cheers!
Thok
2 people like this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
8 Aug 09
You're probably right, we do need to work on self improvement, but I can't see many of us doing it. I think about the quote, "oh, if I only had it to do over again I'd...." If I'm the same person, "over again," as I am now, I'm going to do the same as I did.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Jan 10
hi pose123 its been my feeling that a lot of parents do not practice unconditional love accepting us worts and all, they always have conditions, you must improve this or that first, then comes my love.,I had to learn to love myself as I was worts and all as my husband loved me unconditi
onally. that to me never meant I wou ld not try to improve on my weak spots,it meant I was a person worth loving in spite of any little worts. I dont think a lot of us do accept ourselves, we are always sure we have this and that and the other thing wrong with us, no we are often our own worst critic. And we are harsher on ourselves than the mates who love us. this is my own impression of course.
onally. that to me never meant I wou ld not try to improve on my weak spots,it meant I was a person worth loving in spite of any little worts. I dont think a lot of us do accept ourselves, we are always sure we have this and that and the other thing wrong with us, no we are often our own worst critic. And we are harsher on ourselves than the mates who love us. this is my own impression of course.
