1/ We all know that we need to respect ourselves and that it's necessary to a good life. But what is self-respect and how do we go about it?
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4/ When it comes to others, the common definition serves us well. We easily feel high regard & admiration for others, less so with ourselves
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5/ Self-respect is an obvious psychological double bind: we would all like high esteem, yet are constantly reminded of our own shortcomings.
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6/ One solution to this dilemma is alter your self-image. Treat yourself as valuable, worthy of esteem. A favorite of motivational speakers.
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7/ Another solution, popular in the self-improvement world, is to make the choices and act in the manner that *earns* you your self-respect.
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8/ There is nothing wrong with these two approaches: they are both useful in many situations. But they are imperfect, partial solutions.
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9/ The imperfection owes to the fact they lean heavily on the '-respect' side and its implicit association with a value measure of the self.
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10/ In this model, one *has* more/less of 'respect' depending on whether they 1)treat themselves w/ esteem 2)their choices/actions merit it.
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11/ The objective nature of language deceives us again: The 'self' as object associated with 'Respect' as a quality/property of that object.
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12/ We describe & understand reality through linguistic concepts. To use them effectively, we must examine and define them properly.
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13/ Osho cleverly proposes that we view self-respect as a verb, not a noun. That when it comes to the self, respect is process, not outcome.
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14/ One literally respects oneself when they 'look back' on themselves moment-to-moment. When one regards their whole being, one respects it
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15/ Each moment a lot takes place within us: thoughts, emotions, physical sensations. To respect ourselves we must pay attention to them.
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16/ The more we pay attention the more we understand these processes as related, in a dialogue with each other, creating a present 'being'.
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17/ The being, in the present, is constantly feeding information to our awareness. Our minds and bodies are designed for that exact purpose.
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18/ When we do not pay attention to what occurs in our own being, we disrespect it. We are, in effect, against it—how can we respect it?
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19/ Unaware and ignorant of what our minds and bodies tell us, we get in trouble. Physical and mental illness is an indication in many cases
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20/ We do so particularly when we force things upon ourselves with our thinking minds. When the ego gets a free pass & thinks it knows best
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21/ We are wired a certain way, our bodies and minds have a genetic makeup. Our awareness is free, but not free to fully change our being.
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22/ We are free to Trust and Follow our Being however. To develop through it and by it, to its own particular infinite potential.
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23/ As there is a Thinking mind there is an Intuitive mind. If we are to respect ourselves we must also pay attention to our Intuitive mind.
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24/ Fundamentally, self-respect is getting on with your entire being. This is a practice that one cultivates each moment, throughout life.
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25/ The process entails that we look back, we listen to and trust our whole being—not just our thinking mind—as we live life & make choices.
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26/ The more we are in accord with our own being as it develops and changes, the more we create the opportunity to grow into its potential.
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27/ Through that process self-respect as esteem arises naturally, as we do not seek to define ourselves by it but instead are defined by it.
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Addendum (h/t
@exiledsurfer) Source: http://bit.ly/2t63mst pic.twitter.com/l10z8LmGlY
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