I was blown out of the water this weekend when two different people thanked me for believing in them. The crazy part was that, in my own eyes, I wasn’t doing anything special. There were things that these folks had done and I simply congratulated them and encouraged them to keep it up. I only did what I was taught as a child to do…
After I received the second thanks, I really pondered about why my actions were so abnormal, or extraordinary, and I came to this conclusion… People want to be praised but don’t praise each other. So, when someone does praise you, that praise catches you off guard.
Personally, I struggle daily with depression, feelings of inadequacy, and feelings of abandonment (just to name a few). As a resourceful person, I have been to a great many psychological websites, read more than my share of papers written on these issues, spoken with professionals and deduced a number of theories regarding these matters. I have also been very diligent in surrounding myself with positive people and people that I consider above me or at the level that I desire to be. You may be asking why and the simple answer is this… When I’m struggling the greatest, I want to know what I’m dealing with and I want to have people close by that their mere presence is a boost for me.
I’ve learned that whenever I have those down times, if I don’t get in the right place, I can spiral uncontrollably and the results aren’t pleasant. I become super withdrawn, lacking any desire except to ball up in the corner on the couch, and I’m not a nice person (understatement, of course). I understand the concept of “when it rains, it pours” also known as the Law of Attraction. I also know that life has a tendency of beating up on you. But, in all of that, we have to take a stand!!!
I’ve decided that I will follow a really easy, Biblical notion… “Do to others as you would have them do to you”, Luke 6:31 NIV. Another rule that I try to follow is one that my mother gave me, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothing.” People need to feel special. I need to feel special. There are times when I don’t feel special and I wished for someone to tell me that I was… I know how it feels.
We get enough of the negative side of life. As human beings, we have a knack for magnifying the uncool stuff and throwing it in people’s faces. We have perfected that art but who wants to be known as a professional mudslinger? Funny thing about slinging mud is that as long as you’re slinging it, YOUR hands are dirty.
All I’m saying today is to make a concerted effort to do good to someone, anyone… everyone today. We never know how that kind word (seed) will blossom into in YOUR future… We all need that extra push!!!
I love you ALL!!!
Stay Blessed,
Jackie
4 replies on “That extra push…”
Reblogged this on untoldsecretsinfo.
LikeLike
Thanks for the reblog…
LikeLike
Hey Jackie, you ARE special, so special you don’t always realise it. Great blog. Keep going. Tess
LikeLike
Tess,
Thank you for YOUR courage and strength. I pray for your continued grace to not only endure but to enjoy your journey…
You are a blessing,
Jackie
LikeLike