In a world where everything has become about how we feel, I have been contemplating the reasons for this new emphasis. In doing so, I have concluded, people want to feel good about themselves and expressing concern and care for others is the easiest way to do so.
At its root, this is certainly admirable and should be a truth we can all live with. However, as hard as this is for some to hear the truth is for most of us, even the act of caring may be self-motivated.
How can we know if this is true of us? It is not difficult; it just takes some honesty and willingness to be introspective.
If we do, I believe we will find, we can be very self-focused and self-absorbed. So much so, even considering the possibility is difficult to hear for many. The reason it is difficult to hear it may point to the reality we can profess to care for and about others as a means of feeling good about ourselves. Which really does make it about us doesn’t it?
Though difficult for most of us. If we are willing to spend even a small amount of time considering we are our number one concern. Perhaps we will come away understanding a little more about ourselves.
The beauty of realizing and acknowledging this is, we can begin to see ourselves and others through a different lens. Then, our professed care and concern will become more genuine, as our empathy becomes more about others than it does about us.
In expressing this concept, I hope to point to the truth, “me, my, mine” is how most of us are. Knowing and accepting this should not create an offense. In fact, acknowledging this will give us an opportunity to understand who we are, how we are and why.
From here, we will be able to compensate for our me focused minds and hearts. Then we can start looking for ways to sincerely place others first. As we do, we must realize we will still have to wrestle with our reasons and feelings for doing so.
As with everything in life, the beauty of reaching a point of realizing who we are will help us to become all we can be.
The fact we are our number one concern is not a new concept.
As I have written in the past, this has been the case since the beginning of time. Lucifer himself was cast out of heaven for his desire to be more and have more for himself.
So how do we offset for this evil perspective that has become our natural state?
We look to the one who was able to live in stark contrast to a “me, my, mine” focus.
That someone is Jesus.
His entire life on earth was focused on doing His Father’s Will and on placing the lives of those He touched above His own.
To truly care about others. We must learn to accept and care about them for who they are, not because it benefits us in some way. Then our “me, my, mine” perspectives can become, them, theirs and His.
Oh, what a different place our world will be when we do!
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
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