ON TAKING ONESELF TOO SERIOUSLY...NOT

According to me, taking one's self too seriously is the birthing character defect of the overwhelming majority of humans, maybe hidden in the pretty gift of free will. 

For me, it is taking myself too seriously that births all my other character defects...being an entire focus on self, it can hardly bring otherwise. When we are taking ourself too seriously, in that thought-bubble, we are our own God...by whatever name we choose to call God. 

I suspect it is taking ourself too seriously that's the wedge that begins to put others off even though they are not certain what it is that is doing the dirty. That is the word unspoken that sends others away and gives self-pity another leg up. Others sense something ain't right while we're sadly smiling through...close enough to succeeding at seeming "just fine, thank you very much." 

The way out of taking oneself too seriously...or to begin at any rate...is to face it, own it inside, then release it by admitting it openly with neither guile nor subterfuge. There it is...the balm of acceptance, the healer of self-born pain.

The upside of taking oneself seriously...but not too...is our need to take responsibility...to be personally accountable...for our own emotional welfare. We begin by leaning in trust on God...that is, we pray thank you. Therein lies the exchange of our egoic wants for our spiritual need, and we are free...whether we know it or not in the moment. 

The downside of taking oneself too seriously is that it can only birth self-pity, self-protective anger, self-denying coverups, self unto our infinity. Lest we resist, that is our reason for its being. 

The double downside: This is where don't get mad, get even got its start, and festering resentment took root. Whoa...don't even get started...we'd best hold our breath as we're praying thank you and quick-trot on by.

My great and glorious lesson learned by taking myself too seriously is that it beat me like a drum until I admitted complete defeat...purely by my laughter even as I owned it. The freedom is in the fact that I still take myself too seriously but I love it and laugh when I catch myself back there again. Admittedly, it is a tish harder to love and laugh when you catch me at it first, but I get there...we get there.

Thank you.