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It is frustrating to hear a person talk about their low self-esteem, their feelings of inferiority all the while knowing that the only way to move past it is the one way they are not willing to take.
They have to step out, they need to attempt, to try, to pursue, to leap, to jump, to dive, to fly, to run, to love, to create, to build, to play, to meet, to greet, to talk, to write, to kiss, to touch, to bless, to work, to go, to swim, to do.
They do not need to figure out why they have low self-esteem first, before they act. They need to act, and act again and again and again.
My favorite song is ‘Jubilee’ by Mary Chapin-Carpenter. My favorite part in the song goes like this:
And I can tell by the way you’re talking
That the past isn’t letting you go
But there’s only so long you can take it all on
And then the wrong’s gotta be on its own
And when you’re ready to leave it behind you
You’ll look back, and all that you’ll see
Is the wreckage and rust that you left in the dust
On your way to the jubilee
You leave it behind you by moving, by acting, by doing. Go.
Drawing by Marty Coleman, The Napkin Dad
http://napkindad.blogspot.com
http://www.martycoleman.com
quote by Henry C. Link, dates unknown, American author, wrote ‘Return To Religion’, 1937
And more people would admit their mistakes if they didn’t get completely trashed and condemned because of them. A good lesson for parents to learn. You want your kids to admit and learn? Then treat their mistakes as just that, mistakes. Teach them how the mistake might have been avoided, but don’t denigrate them as if they meant to do it, or were stupid for doing it. They are kids, remember?
