Self

I was speaking with a dear friend not too long ago about how we tend to focus on ourselves with critical eyes. There are two directions that this can go; one is caring so much that we become self centered at the expense of reality. We can also be so self negating that we easily dismiss the qualities and attributes that others see manifested in us. Selflessness is our goal for it is others we are here to be of service to.

When we think that we may have caused sadness to another or some other misstep, it is possible to criticize ourselves so severely that it causes more harm than good to ourselves and the other.

These thoughts were the foundation of the following poem.


SELF

Looking deep within my heart
Searching for what others see
Knowing not, what that could be
For I see you and you see me
Neither willing to see the best
Within ourselves we give no rest

For others we offer, an open hand
Sharing our love, our bonds expand
Within ourselves, not so forgiving
Wondering at times, why we are living

When a dear one, on us transgress
We pass it off as a time of stress
But when it is us, that overstep
We are far from forgiving, our misstep

Perhaps as mirrors we can see each other
I see you seeing me
and you see me seeing you
with eyes forgiving one to another

There is something remiss
In others love we dismiss
when we start to fall
into the dark abyss
of self negation
when we are part, of His creation

Looking at your reflection of me
I begin to see
The better parts of me
And work nevertheless
On the rest
And do my best
A better person to be
-Shiidon, May 2008