Contentment Or Resentment

Confusion, suffering and pain occupies the vast expanse of no man’s land that lies between the two extremes of self-loathing and self-loving.

Depending on what is happening within us and around us it can take various degrees of concerted effort to avoid the two extremes and find a comfortable place to settle.

There’s a problem when we take our lead from the attitudes of others. There’s a greater problem when we take on board the opinions of those we have no reason to respect.

Those who love us will tell us their truth with the very best of intention. Others will say what they want to say with no regard of the feelings or stability of their audience. Lies will always be lies just as the truth will always be the truth.

While it’s impossible to escape the opinions of others, the lead we take must first come from within.

We must come to a realisation that not only are we unique but that we are valuable as individuals. We exist and we are worthy.

If we fail to appreciate the person we are it can be more than difficult to understand or accept the appreciation of others. The warning is that we become what we think. We are what we choose to be.

The love-hate relationship we have with ourselves can wax and wane throughout our lifetime. The objective is to find a mid-point between the two extremes and work to hold our position.

It’s important to reach a point where we are content. That’s not to say that we should not be ambitious. No matter where we are in life we have potential. Promise is there if we are willing to reach out and embrace it.

But if we give more weight to the critics than we do to the commenders we will find ourselves caught up in a battle that has no end.

Our personal safe place lies between our head and our heart. What’s inside is of far greater importance than what’s outside.