March 16

Today's quotation:

We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch.  Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.

e.e. cummings

Today's Meditation:

I find these words to be rather sad, but true.  Most of us look for our value in the perceptions of other people--when someone else tells us that we've done something well or that we're very valuable people, we believe them.  Unfortunately, though, we seem to be unable to tell ourselves this very same thing--that we're valuable and very worthwhile--and believe it.

Why can I not recognize my own worth until someone else confirms it for me?  Is it because I need an objective opinion because I know that my opinion about myself is naturally biased?  Or is it because I don't trust myself to make such a judgment?  No matter what the cause, I think it's a shame that we tend to ignore the deep, deep value of spirit inside of us because of some simple and probably silly mistakes that we've made on the surface of our lives.

Gaining belief in our own value is one of the most empowering aspects of our lives.  It can truly change us as human beings, as long as we don't allow that belief to turn into arrogance and intolerance.  This belief, as cummings says, allows us to take risks that before were impossible.  This belief can turn our lives into exciting and extraordinary explorations, rather than dim and dull exercises in following rote patterns because they're safe and we know them well.

You are very valuable--just as the rest of us, you are a spirit who is spending time in a human body to learn some lessons that life here on this planet can teach you.  You are just as valuable as anyone else, and you can spread the awareness of this value to others, who themselves can benefit from such knowledge.  You know in your heart that you are an incredibly worthy spirit; now it's time to act from the heart knowledge rather than trying to get everything done with the brain.

Questions to consider:

What's the difference between heart knowledge and brain knowledge?

Why might it be difficult to recognize and acknowledge our own value? 

Why do we tend to need to have other people validate our existence and our value?

For further thought:

Don't let the opinions of other people determine the image you have of yourself.  There is no need to feel either appreciated or understood.  Be even-minded.  What you think about yourself is everything.  What others think about you has no value at all, unless you choose to give it value.

Shantidasa

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