From the time we are small children, we are molded and shaped by society in an attempt get us to live in certain prescribed patterns. Over the past few weeks, one of these patterns has drawn my attention as it is something I have allowed myself to be trapped by for a very long time. I call it the myth of self-sacrifice.
The vast majority of us are convinced it is noble and good to sacrifice our own desires for the greater good--that it is more important to do for others instead of ourselves. We look up to figures like Jesus and Mother Teresa as examples and believe it is important to emulate them. I believe this is a lie. It is not a choice between being selfless and being selfish. The real choice is to connect to and follow the guidance and wisdom in your own heart.
The difference between choosing selfish/selfless or choosing to follow your heart is judgment. If you make decisions based on selfishness or selflessness, you are coming from a place of judgment. When you choose to follow your heart, your decisions are not based on thoughts of what is right or what is wrong. Your choices are based on what the Universe considers best for the whole. Understand the difference sounds subtle, but is extremely profound!
When you follow the guidance of your heart, there are times when people will judge your actions to be selfish. At other times your actions will be seen as selfless or self sacrificing. The actions being judged are short term consequences that may actually have long term results that are not anticipated. Actions taken upon advice from the heart typically result in circumstances working out beautifully in a cohesive whole. The beauty is often only seen in hindsight.
At this point in my life, I understand how much damage I have done to myself because I allowed my own personal judgments (aka guilt) to guide me in my decision making process. At times when I believed it was best to sacrifice myself in service to others, I missed opportunities that were presented to me. I could have had more and done more. I could have shined as myself instead of allowing my relationships with others to define me.
Before you begin to jump into judgment, understand I am not talking about doing things for myself first. I am talking about consulting my heart for guidance when making decisions. It is not about me wanting to be selfish or selfless. It is about me wanting to make decisions based on what the Universe believes is for the greater good. Sometimes the decisions will benefit me. Sometimes they will be more blessing to others. It's really all about the bigger picture and not the little individual pieces.
On the negative side of the self-sacrifice myth, when you believe life is all about giving you may give until you have nothing left inside you. This is not a productive place to be. However, the bigger problem with sacrifice is that you not only deny yourself but you also deny your own power. You are not the master and creator of your own life. You are a slave to judgment and to those who want to use your power for their own personal gain.
If you want to live in authenticity and in power, it is important to lay aside judgment and consult your heart. It is your heart that connects you to Oneness. It is your heart that overcomes the separations of duality. It is your heart that knows what choice is best for the greater good. Learn to consult it. Your life will flow in a much easier and less troubled way.
~CSE
The difference between choosing selfish/selfless or choosing to follow your heart is judgment. If you make decisions based on selfishness or selflessness, you are coming from a place of judgment. When you choose to follow your heart, your decisions are not based on thoughts of what is right or what is wrong. Your choices are based on what the Universe considers best for the whole. Understand the difference sounds subtle, but is extremely profound!
When you follow the guidance of your heart, there are times when people will judge your actions to be selfish. At other times your actions will be seen as selfless or self sacrificing. The actions being judged are short term consequences that may actually have long term results that are not anticipated. Actions taken upon advice from the heart typically result in circumstances working out beautifully in a cohesive whole. The beauty is often only seen in hindsight.
At this point in my life, I understand how much damage I have done to myself because I allowed my own personal judgments (aka guilt) to guide me in my decision making process. At times when I believed it was best to sacrifice myself in service to others, I missed opportunities that were presented to me. I could have had more and done more. I could have shined as myself instead of allowing my relationships with others to define me.
Before you begin to jump into judgment, understand I am not talking about doing things for myself first. I am talking about consulting my heart for guidance when making decisions. It is not about me wanting to be selfish or selfless. It is about me wanting to make decisions based on what the Universe believes is for the greater good. Sometimes the decisions will benefit me. Sometimes they will be more blessing to others. It's really all about the bigger picture and not the little individual pieces.
On the negative side of the self-sacrifice myth, when you believe life is all about giving you may give until you have nothing left inside you. This is not a productive place to be. However, the bigger problem with sacrifice is that you not only deny yourself but you also deny your own power. You are not the master and creator of your own life. You are a slave to judgment and to those who want to use your power for their own personal gain.
If you want to live in authenticity and in power, it is important to lay aside judgment and consult your heart. It is your heart that connects you to Oneness. It is your heart that overcomes the separations of duality. It is your heart that knows what choice is best for the greater good. Learn to consult it. Your life will flow in a much easier and less troubled way.
~CSE
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