Today, I’d like to share an inspirational video recently sent to me. It’s entitled Lines That Divide Us This video is self explanatory and touched my heart because it exposed some judgments within me.
One thing I learned from watching this video is when I place dividing lines between myself and others, I also place dividing lines within myself. I not only judge others as ‘less than’ or ‘more than’ based on my differences, I judge aspects of myself based on the same perceptions.
How we perceive ourselves is often reflected in how we view others. Once we begin focusing on what we have in common rather than our differences, we not only shift our perspective of others but ourselves as well.
Solution: Awareness is the first step toward making new choices, creating new perceptions and gaining new perspectives.
Healthier Choice: I invite you to notice what person or group of people you are most uncomfortable with. Begin wondering what it is that makes you uneasy, and notice what appears…perhaps they remind you of someone else or maybe you are holding someone else’s belief about that person or group you learned as a child. Simply wondering ‘why’ diffuses emotional attachment to your perception of another, allowing you to see them more objectively.
Tried & True Tip: A quick, easy way to erase the lines that divide is whenever you find yourself judging someone else, make this statement “Just like me..…..” Simply follow with something like “Just like me she wants to feel loved and accepted or just like me he wants approval or just like me they want peace or just like me they feel scared sometimes or just like me she gets stressed or just like me she worries about how she looks etc” I think you get the drift. “Just like me” reminds us we all have some of the same desires, fears, joys, flaws and feelings. We all want to be accepted and valued just like we are right now.
Filed under: Happiness, Healthy Lifestyle, Personal Growth, Relationships
