When I was in my teens, my grandfather gave me advice that it has taken my years to understand. He said: Always try to associate with people better than yourself.
I have been blessed to associate with some wonderful people - kind, patient, honest, generous, and firm in resisting bad influences. What I have learned is that if I want to associate with such people - and I DO - then I need to develop such characteristics myself.
Finally, as I have worked to develop these characteristics, I find that I have self-confidence and self-respect, which I largely equate with self-love. This means also that I strive always to avoid doing those things that would diminish my self-respect. And I am blessed to have others around me who inspire me to always improve.
Wonderfully put! It's an exercise as well in what we can control and what we can't. We can choose who to associate with - but we can't make people like us. We can control the person we want to be, therefore attracting the people we want to spend our time with.
Suicide, self-murder, will become a thing of the past if people are taught to love themselves.
These days they are indoctrinated/manipulated to be 'humble' ending up loathing themselves, disabled from reaching their full potential in life.
Life is easy for someone who were valued in all their personal facets (talents, potentials and like like) because they will mature (evolve) in a healthy way. They will feel feel good about themselves, will have a good self image and will LOVE themselves in a healthy way...
But, someone whose talents weren't valued, who lived in a tyranny, who was SOCIALLY CONDITIONED/MANIPULATED and whose GROWTH was controlled in a certain way (like in christianism or christianity) will be damaged in some way or another and will feel dirty and abused (which they actually were). They will feel bad about themselves, will struggle with anger issues, will suffer from 'holes' in their lives and will many times 'HATE' themselves...
Love this, thank you! I’m reminded of Jesus most central directive to “Love thy neighbor as thyself”….that this doesn’t work very well for anyone if one hates oneself. 🍻
When I was in my teens, my grandfather gave me advice that it has taken my years to understand. He said: Always try to associate with people better than yourself.
I have been blessed to associate with some wonderful people - kind, patient, honest, generous, and firm in resisting bad influences. What I have learned is that if I want to associate with such people - and I DO - then I need to develop such characteristics myself.
Finally, as I have worked to develop these characteristics, I find that I have self-confidence and self-respect, which I largely equate with self-love. This means also that I strive always to avoid doing those things that would diminish my self-respect. And I am blessed to have others around me who inspire me to always improve.
Wonderfully put! It's an exercise as well in what we can control and what we can't. We can choose who to associate with - but we can't make people like us. We can control the person we want to be, therefore attracting the people we want to spend our time with.
This is AMAZING and eye opening! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Hallo there!
Suicide, self-murder, will become a thing of the past if people are taught to love themselves.
These days they are indoctrinated/manipulated to be 'humble' ending up loathing themselves, disabled from reaching their full potential in life.
Life is easy for someone who were valued in all their personal facets (talents, potentials and like like) because they will mature (evolve) in a healthy way. They will feel feel good about themselves, will have a good self image and will LOVE themselves in a healthy way...
But, someone whose talents weren't valued, who lived in a tyranny, who was SOCIALLY CONDITIONED/MANIPULATED and whose GROWTH was controlled in a certain way (like in christianism or christianity) will be damaged in some way or another and will feel dirty and abused (which they actually were). They will feel bad about themselves, will struggle with anger issues, will suffer from 'holes' in their lives and will many times 'HATE' themselves...
Pieter J (PJ)
Love this, thank you! I’m reminded of Jesus most central directive to “Love thy neighbor as thyself”….that this doesn’t work very well for anyone if one hates oneself. 🍻
Excellent point!
Thanks for your philosophical philanthropy.