Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Chicken Soup for the Soul cocreators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen with Chris Karcher
ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson,
Finding God in the Questions, and Chris
.
Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, and Chris Karcher
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Look within
Fear-based emotions keep us from loving and accepting others.
Our ability to accept others is closely tied to our own self-esteem. When we love ourselves, it is easier to accept people as they are. When we feel inferior, acceptance is difficult.
What bothers us about someone else is often the same quality we see in ourselves. We notice the flaw because we are so familiar with it. The advice we give to others might be what we need to hear. We might be embarrassed by a family member’s weakness and view it as a negative reflection on ourselves.
Often, when we attempt to change another person, we are expecting him or her to fill a void within us. We look to others to validate us or make us happy. Only by developing a relationship with God will we be able to satisfy the deepest longings of our heart.
Consider the following questions when you are struggling to accept another person.[i]
· Am I seeking validation or happiness from another person instead of accepting love from God?
· What about me is inhibiting acceptance?
· Do I have the quality I am viewing as a flaw in someone else?
· Am I struggling with self-love?
· Am I struggling for control?
· Am I struggling to belong?
· Is my motive self-seeking?
· Do I want the other person to change to help me look or feel better?
· Have I acknowledged that the other person has his own issues? Am I allowing grace to flow through me anyway?
· Do I seek peace or do I want to mold the perfect person?
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Copyright © 2003 by Christine N. Karcher. Chris Karcher is the author of Relationships of Grace, Amazing Things I Know About You, and Relationships of Grace Workbook. To order books and tapes, schedule Chris for speaking engagements, or subscribe to Chris’ newsletter, visit www.relationshipsofgrace.com, email order@relationshipsofgrace.com, or call 1-877-GET-GRACE (1-877-438-4722).
[i] A free set of worksheets in journal format is available for a limited time at www.RelationshipsOfGrace.com.