Real excellence and humility are not incompatible one with the other, on the contrary they are twin sisters.- Jean Baptiste Lacordaire
Like many people, I have a constant battle with self-importance. Sometimes I am very pleased with myself and believe that other people's happiness depends on me. Much more often, I have self doubts and believe that I am inadequate. I fully identify with the words my friend Philip wrote recently, "I usually go back and forth between feeling like I'm more important than I really am or that I'm not important at all. Either way is simply self-centeredness. What I would like to be all day, every day, is God-centered."
I find self-centeredness to be a great cause of self-inflicted suffering, whether it shows up as an inflated ego or as feeling worthless. For me, happiness comes when I remember that others' opinions of me are just their opinions - nothing more. I find happiness in moving toward my goals regardless of the applause or the jeers of others.
Further reading:
Abraham Lincoln: Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
Happiness blooms in the presence of self-respect and the absence of ego. - jlh
How to be Happy - 7 Secrets for a Happy Life
I would like to ,say thank you for inspiring quotes. I have learned a lot from your post. I have a problem of what other people think about me, this has been a struggle that I am working to overcome. Please continue to send your encouraging words of healing.
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Very inspiring message. It gives one opportunity to re-examine oneself and become a better person.
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