Every time you reject yourself, you idealize others
Interpretation
Self-rejection leads to unrealistic comparisons with others, diminishing our self-worth.
This quote by Henri Nouwen suggests that when we fail to accept ourselves, we tend to elevate others to an unrealistic status, causing us to feel inferior. It highlights the importance of self-acceptance and warns against the dangers of comparing ourselves unfavorably to others, which can lead to a cycle of self-doubt and criticism.
In practice
During a workshop on self-esteem, this quote can be used to encourage participants to embrace their individuality.
The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. God loves us, not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love.
The immense joy in welcoming back the lost son hides in the immense sorrow that has gone before....our brokenness may appear beautiful, but our brokenness has no other beauty but the beauty that comes from the compassion that surrounds it.
Suffering invites us to place our hurts in larger hands. In Christ we see God suffering – for us. And calling us to share in God’s suffering love for a hurting world. The small and even overpowering pains of our lives are intimately connected with the greater pains of Christ. Our daily sorrows are anchored in a greater sorrow and therefore a larger hope.
To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, welcome, to accept.
Waiting is a dry desert between where we are and where we want to be. (Finding My Way Home)
Becoming the beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am, in fact, thinking of, talking about and doing from hour to hour.
If one can only see things according to one's own belief system, one is destined to become virtually deaf, dumb, and blind.
I've learned that every human being, with or without disabilities, needs to strive to do their best, and by striving for happiness you will arrive at happiness. For us, you see, having autism is normal-so we can't know for sure what your 'normal' is even like. But so long as we can learn to love ourselves, I'm not sure how much it matters whether we're normal or autistic.
I wonder if we might pledge ourselves to remember what life is really all about—not to be afraid that we're less flashy than the next, not to worry that our influence is not that of a tornado, but rather that of a grain of sand in an oyster! Do we have that kind of patience?
The fruit that you eat will never taste as beautiful as the fruit that I ate during the turmoil of war. You will never cherish it as much as I do.
Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.
No one gets away with anything, ever, so take responsibility for your own life.
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