Be excited and respect yourself!

How are you doing — it is a busy life isn’t it? We are so overwhelmed with the minutiae of life that it is hard to “sit back” and reflect on who I am and where am I going. Certainly, everyone in the marketplace knows my profile and what I need. To this end, we are pushed to consume, consume, and consume yet again. The whole process of an education appears to simply be a way that I can become a purchaser of goods. Due to the advent of the Internet and demographic studies, your “acquiring standard” is analyzed down to the smallest detail. (1)  

But, as you stumble into the fast-flowing river of life, do you want to be simply defined by the acquisition of things; will that be your benchmark of success? Because, if it is, there is risk involved, and you may fail at the game of capitalism. The structure is such that there will be winners and losers. (2) Everyone cannot be successful, materially. What implements, then, are necessary to fight this battle of the self and make me successful — no matter what — and on my own terms?   

I believe, the very first thing I must do is to realize that I am truly alive. Now, this sounds extremely trite, bordering on condescension — but it is true! Life fills us with details and the Internet prompts us in a certain direction. (3) There is very little time for thought and self-reflection. Few people are really self-aware. (4) When you become awake, for example, you immediately realize what a gift my “piece of life” is! There is no one like me; there never has been, and there never will be: I am unique – but raw and rough, like an uncut diamond. Regardless if I am not yet complete: What a blessing God, Gaia, or the Universe, has given me! I can now be excited to be alive – to be me! 

The second item that must be addressed is a “touch more difficult,” for it calls for a mindset, a way of thinking. I must learn to respect myself. This is very difficult when I am young, my body is changing, and I am trying to fit into a peer group. But this rite of passage into adulthood will pass: I will grow up. Many people, unfortunately, are carrying deep emotional scars from their childhood. (5) Whatever the horrific circumstances, if you don’t put these behind you, you will never grow, and will suffer for the rest of your life – effectively, terminally damaging your future. This victimization benefits no one, certainly not the self. I must learn to respect myself, my actions, and my striving towards excellence. The tools of prayer, meditation, and self-reflection are essential in this regard. Thus I am off on my great adventure of self-discovery, armed with the excitement and respect of being me. I now have a job to do to change the world for the better. The great self-help author, Napoleon Hill, (6) leaves us with a thought: Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.  

A closing thought: Why excitement and why self-respect? These concepts are fundamental. They are the foundation, if you will, of the self, of my consciousness. This entails that each and every day, I can be in control of my emotions. Now, to be fair, this requires many years of training, hopefully with a mentor or spiritual guide to point you in the right direction. What is the result of this awakening? It is the ability to be in control of your inner reality and to think critically about your life and what you want from it. This does not mean that you will be perpetually happy. This is a further state only achieved by Christ, the Buddha, or Confucius. I am discussing developing in life as a productive human being in control as time unfolds before you. You understand that you are 100% responsible for your existence – both the good and the bad – you have no one to blame for your life but you. You are not a victim, but a hero. “There are neither heroes nor cowards, there is only action.” (7)   

To sum up:  This week we spoke about being excited and respecting the self – having, or developing, self-respect.  

To be noted: From Michelangelo (8) — The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. 

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rgSzQwe5DQ&ab_channel=HALIDONMUSIC 

For reflection: If by Rudyard Kipling – Read by Sir Michael Caine

This week, on your contemplative wanderings, please ponder how you view the excitement of life and your magical place in it. 

Every day look for something magical and beautiful. 

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great! 

http://www.dbawageslave.com 

Quote: I acknowledge that I take responsibility for who I am and how I develop. 

Footnotes: 

1) Factors Influencing Consumer Decisions

2) The Winners And Losers Of Free Market Capitalism

3) How the internet can harm us, and what can we do about it?

4) Why Most People Lack Self-Awareness and What to Do About It

5) 10 Ways to Stop Feeling Like a Victim Once and for All

6) 20 Things Napoleon Hill Said That Changed The World

7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajneesh 

8) Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

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