it seems like my life has themes. for a few weeks i'll really think and ponder over certain things and it seems like i can't get them out of my mind.
well, for the last few weeks, i've been thinking a lot about kindness and humility. two things i don't feel very good at sometimes. as i've thought about these two things, a quote from
[i've also heard it called the Perfect Marriage Guide... so for those of you who want to make your marriage better or are seeking to become better-- study
Preach My Gospel
]
has run through my mind a lot. it says, "The opposite of humility is pride... Pride is competitive; those who are prideful seek to have more or presume they are better than other people. Pride usually results in feelings of anger or hatred, and is a great stumbling block." {
Preach My Gospel: A Guide To Missionary Service
, chapter 6, Humility} i've also learned that another form of pride is also jealousy.
when i was in high school, my seminary teacher taught us a lesson on pride. he taught us that pride can be looking down (as though we are on a pedestal) or it can be looking up (putting someone else on a pedestal). either way we create negative feelings towards other people because we feel as though we are better than them or they are better than us.
confession: i have a really hard time with this. i'm
REALLY
competitive at times. too competitive. like that person that makes it so the game isn't fun anymore because all they want to do is win. yeah. that's me... but i'm trying to be better.
recently i've been paying really close attention to people around me who are striving to become better versions of themselves, people who have a large influence in the social media world, people who want to have a large influence in the social media world, etc. basically i've been people watching via social media. (kinda weird, now that i think about it... oh well.) and i have to admit, i'm amazed at how incredibly rude people can be but on the flip side i'm also amazed at how kind other people can be. and i've come to really like the phrase, "promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate."
honestly, what is the point of putting someone down because you don't agree with what they have to say or what they believe? i've found that if my only argument puts someone down, then I'M probably in the wrong and need to just stay quiet. when i read
, this quote hit me like a ton of bricks:
“
The man who cannot listen to an argument which opposes his views either has a weak position or is a weak defender of it.
No opinion that cannot stand discussion or criticism is worth holding. And it has been wisely said that the man who knows only half of any question is worse off than the man who knows nothing of it. He is not only one sided, but his partisanship soon turns him into an intolerant and a fanatic. In general it is true that nothing which cannot stand up under discussion and criticism is worth defending.” {Philadelphia Newspaper as quoted by James E. Talmage in
Jesus the Christ
}
on my instagram account, i posted
picture and then tagged a few people who have inspired me to become better by their personal commitments to become better. i didn't intend for them to comment and say nice things back to me. but that happened anyway.
guys, kindness is contagious.
and the best part? KINDNESS DOESN'T COST A THING. sometimes it's hard to be kind or say something nice because we just don't feel it. well guess what, when you do it anyway you knock out a brick from your pride wall. the more you do it, the better you feel and the more genuine you become. (i'm saying this like i'm super good at it-- i'm not, but i DO know that that's what happens) sometimes it's awkward to compliment people. sometimes it seems forced. but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. and then you have tons of bricks to help build other people up with. so just knock down your wall and build up other people.
i have SO many people who inspire me literally ON. THE. DAILY. i could write a billion lists and not cover them all. people who pursue their dreams or just simply try a little harder to be a little better each day inspire me. people who are true to themselves & what they believe motivate me. people who are just good at saying nice things are my heroes and i want to be more like them.
so what's the point of this?
just be kind & then be amazed at the kindness that is returned to you.
also remember:
when we look at people with jealousy, we want what they have. only we want it the easy way. we just want it. we don't want to work for it. chances are, they worked for it. so remember that nothing good ever comes easy and work for what you want!
stop dreaming & start doing.