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WHAT MAKES A LIFE
WORTH LIVING?
SCHOOL TEACHES US EVERYTHING
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO LIVE FULLY
1.) PARENTS AND SCHOOLS TEACH US
TO MEASURE OUR WORTH
BY HOW WELL WE ARE LIKED
BY IMPORTANT OTHERS.
Giving up the need to be liked by everyone frees us.
We stop wasting enormous energy in chasing a cruel Will O Wisp.
We can focus on just becoming.
And those drawn to the Us that We become that way will be worth sharing the fascinating journey that is life.
2.) BEING AUTHENTIC IS NOT BEING A FREAK
You think an eagle feels a freak when it takes to the skies and soars alone.
In STRANGER THINGS 2,
Jonathan tells his brother that the freaks are the ones who do great things.
Be true to who you are inside and fly like an eagle.
Perhaps if we taught students that in school,
the persecuted ones would find their way without violence to themselves or others.
3.) WE TEACH OTHERS HOW TO TREAT US
Often we think to get along, we must go along.
But in giving in to bullies, we only teach them to treat us worse.
Standing up to a bully will cost. Not doing so will cost more:
your self respect, inner peace, and joy.
Bruises heals. Wounded souls often do not.
Strong boundaries reinforce our self-worth.
4.) WE ARE ENOUGH
Our culture seems intent on persuading us that our lives are lacking:
that we are not enough;
that we do not have enough,
that there is that elusive something out there that will make things wonderful --
Something external.
REMEMBER:
All excellent points Roland. Our culture and Society has rarely remained content with progress. When something new is invented, it's not long before its replacement is sought after. We have been raised and such a culture, discontent with the word enough. Schools never thought self worth or value. "it's so far the other way my countries gone"...
ReplyDeleteSo right, Robert. :-) Has the flu bug left you and Kim alone? Hope so!
DeleteWell said, Roland.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alex. This cough just is not being kind! :-)
Delete"PARENTS...TEACH US TO MEASURE OUR WORTH BY HOW WELL WE ARE LIKED BY IMPORTANT OTHERS." Nope not me. Ask my kids. I taught them measure themselves the love in their hearts and how they give it to another. I do know people, however, who feel like their job is to schmooze with important people has made her life worthwhile. And this one, "WE TEACH OTHERS HOW TO TREAT US" is hugely important. In the case of bullies, it truly helps if we don't hand over ourselves as a victim to a bully. I'm not a people pleaser so that was never me. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe best parents do as you did, Teresa. I see too many who did not do as you did. Their kids only had worth if they walked the line ... sometimes sadly it was drawn in invisible ink!
DeleteBullies were the bane of my young life. I had to learn this rule the hard way. So good to see you here!
Nothing to disagree with here! Authentic self is my driving force :-)
ReplyDeleteTo be authentic in an inauthentic world can be challenging but totally worth it, right? :-)
DeleteSuch beautiful reminders. It's so easy to get caught up in everything around you and forget. Thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteMy experience with bullies on a job (and fortunately I haven't had such encounters in years) is that most of them backed down when I calmly for forcefully stood up to them, and that's because bullies are by nature cowards.
ReplyDelete