I Can Set The Standard

"The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others." - Sonya Friedman, psychologist and best-selling author

I've been taught that I am the one who teaches people how to treat me.  That goes right along with this quote.  I didn't like hearing this idea at first but I must admit that it appears to be true in my life.

I've struggled for many years with my self-esteem.  I am the first person to apologize if something, anything, goes wrong, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with me.  I was always desperate for people to like me and with that desperation came depression, self-pity, and low self-esteem.  It got harder and harder to fight off the "pity party" that I wanted to have every day as I stewed over what I thought were my pathetic circumstances.

Well, I finally started listening to people share about how they stopped this same kind of behavior and learned to love themselves. I became willing to listen to their suggestions.  It was simple - they told me I should seek to develop my spirituality by connecting to God in some way.  It could be via prayer, meditation, a worship service or even a workshop designed to develop a conscious contact with the God of my understanding. I didn't believe that it would work for me but those who chose to help me seemed content with themselves and I wanted that more than anything else in my life.  I had a very low opinion of myself and there wasn't any room inside of me to accept the love that was offered by my friends and family.  I needed to do something!

And so I gave it a try.  I started down a spiritual path and learned new techniques to improve my conscious contact with God.  As I became open to learning new things, I came to realize just how much I can offer the world.  Not as an egotistical human being, but as a divine creation of God.  I can tap into powerful spirit within me that guides my steps and actions every day.

When I help someone, when I share something I've learned with another person, I'm sharing from a special place inside of me.  This powerful Spirit within me is uplifting, comforting, and soothing.  It nudges me to help others when I would rather keep things to myself.  I never know when I'm going to end up sharing something that will ultimately help another human being.  I'm grateful to have found this way of life.  I thank God every day for the people He has brought to me - they saved my life and taught me everything I know.