"Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise." Sigmund Freud“It’s all Libby’s fault.” “No, she hit me first!” Sibling rivalry. It might be true that she hit me first, but she was also correct that I started it by teasing my younger sister. When we both got the same punishment, these experiences were imprinted in my memory as unjust treatment. And, I’m sure I spent good money on counseling to recover from the resentment I felt, still unable to admit that I might have had something to do with it.
When doing an inventory of the angst in my life, I was forced to consider my role in each of these scenarios. And then, to be honest with myself and identify just exactly what my actions were that promoted the thinking ‘I was the victim.’ Entitlement? Yes. Self-pity? Certainly. Honesty? Absolutely not. The good news is, when I looked back at these scenarios with honesty and open-mindedness, replacing resentments with forgiveness (for others and also for me), I felt better. My resentments and hurts evaporated. My mind was free of anger, revenge, and self-pity.
Lord, thank You for helping me learn to take responsibility for my actions, and then to forgive those I’ve been mistakenly blaming for my misfortune. Amen
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:8-9 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), an Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst…the forerunner of what we know today as psychotherapy.
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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