Self Sacrifice or Delusion?

March 10, 2014 — 3 Comments

Sacrifice is presented as desirable in some circles.  Women in particular are lead to believe that sacrifice will be rewarded, even when the reward is not in sight.  While we can’t go through life without any instances of victimhood, making a habit of it is a very bad idea.  Feminism had a lot to do with rejecting victim status, and yet women today are wrapped up in a number of delusional mindsets that rob happiness.  Perfection will not be attained for more than a few seconds in any arena, so expectations must be matched to that reality.  Striving for more of everything without stopping to enjoy what we have will lead us in a downward cycle.  There is no amount of money or status that can change the need to wallow in the  role of the victim.  Sore winners abound, and wining does not make them happy.  Suffering is a matter of perspective and is not absolute.

I have been studying and meditating on Thomas Moore’s new book, A Religion of One’s Own, which I am enjoying.  When I heard him talk about the book he said many of his patient’s in his counseling practice were treated too harshly in childhood.  Since this heavy discipline was sometimes associated with religion, these adults suffer today from combinations of guilt and inappropriate self punishment. Mixed messages from our youth of spirituality and sacrifice can create havoc in the soul.  Take good care of yourself, gentle reader.