Affirmation for Unity
“I create Unity within myself, my home, and my community, by viewing each individual from the Soul perspective.” #UnityShiftThurs
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Pride is one the least noticed emotions that the Ego uses over us. Many people are aware of the expression of pride that comes from boastful behavior, or self-righteousness. But, one part of pride that alludes most people is the hidden pride of understating oneself.
By the age of 13, I was very shy, and what many would call a wallflower. I had very little self-confidence. That low confidence stayed with me until I became aware of it through my personal development process. One of the ways in which pride ruled me was through reinforcing my low-self confidence. It is a subtle influence, but one that is very common. It usually comes in the form of how we react to a complement from another person.
Imagine that someone has given you the compliment that they like what you are wearing. How do you react? Do you say nothing? Do you downplay your appearance? Do you emphasize something else that you like about yourself instead? All of these reactions are the hidden side of pride, a pride in one’s own low self image. I know it might sound strange that someone could be prideful of a low self image, but this is precisely the paradoxical thinking that the Ego plays into.
Because a common teaching in spirituality is to practice humility, (to not to be boastful or bragging), many assume that downplaying oneself equates humility. This is not true. Humility is not downplaying your own role in something, instead humility is about accepting your part in with an inner knowing. (Not doing it for external reasons)
Next time someone pays you a compliment or says job well done. Simply try to say, “Thank you.” See how you feel when you say those words. Do you feel bad about yourself? Do you feel like you need to pay a complement back? Do you feel uncomfortable? Do you feel like you need to defer this complement to someone else? All of these are are subtle ways in which hidden pride reveals itself. Each one showing you that you are not truly accepting your role in what took place. Humility comes in simplicity, the simplicity of accepting yourself, your role in what has happened, but without feeling that swell of confidence. Humility knows that you did not do the action for the compliment, but it also knows that to pretend you did nothing is just as prideful as bragging about it.
Pride is not only trying to elicit a compliment, but also not being able to accept one. Humility comes from the acceptance that you were a part of the equation to make it happen. When you do not accept your role in completing or participating in something, it is the result of this hidden pride attached to low self-confidence.
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During the month of February, much of the Earth plane looks to the energy of Love and what it means for them in their life. One of the aspects of Love that is often not explored is that of vulnerability. For many people, vulnerability is a negative term, and they feel it represents weakness, or being lesser than someone else. However, vulnerability’s true definition is to allow another person to be permitted into your life and heart.
Being vulnerable is letting someone else see you as you truly see yourself. That part is not easy, because the Ego will tell you to hide a certain part or certain experience, to hold onto to secrets, and to prepare for the possibility of being hurt. But, all of these actions are based on fear; fear of abandonment, fear of betrayal, fear of judgment, and so forth.
To allow yourself to truly be vulnerable, to fully open up your heart chakra, and your true essence to another person, takes great strength. It takes the strength to ignore the Ego, strength to communicate without fear, and strength to share all of you without the need to justify yourself.
Many people get down on themselves during this time of year. I know when I was single; Valentine’s Day was a day of distraction and pretending like I was happy. But, that’s the thing; Valentine’s Day is not a day for couples. It is a time to appreciate anyone you love, including yourself. Vulnerability begins with you, being honest with yourself, and understanding all parts of who you are. Every person has “good” and “bad” qualities, usually assessed by the Ego to be categorized that way. We are so conditioned to overemphasize the “good”, and to downplay, or even ignore, the “bad.”
This conditioning is based on the flood of messages we receive in our lives, whether from parents, the media, or our friends. There is always going to be someone else outside of you giving you the message that some part of you is undesirable, but that is NOT the truth. Their comments are only a reflection of their unexpressed fears and doubts about themselves. Only you can accept yourself for who you are, and only you need to do so. Once you have true unconditional acceptance for yourself, only then can you truly open up to love. Love is based on sharing in your vulnerability, sharing in all of who you are, and if you are ignoring or running away from a part of yourself, neither you nor anyone else can truly love you.
Love is about sharing, about feeling true compassion for another person. Love is not about fear. As long as you hold onto your fear, you cannot possess the entirety of love that The Divine Spirit (God) has for you. Look at where your fears lie within. Ask yourself, why do you feel uncomfortable telling others about those things that your Ego deems to be “bad” about yourself? Once you can share all parts of who you are, then can you possess the true strength of vulnerability.
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