I have been checking Facebook this morning, like I always do, and I have noticed a bit of a theme to the memes as we approach the new year. I thought I’d share a few with you.
This one’s a bit like the Ignoble Prize – it makes you laugh, then it makes you think.
The next one sounds ok, as far as it goes. I agree that we shouldn’t be living our lives for the approval of others but I guess, like all memes, it’s a bit simplistic and leaves quite a few unanswered questions.
The next one possibly counteracts the one above.
It is sort of saying that you should be kind so that other people think you are beautiful. So that raises the question: should you be kind so that others think you are beautiful? Or is it only what you think of yourself that is important? These memes are starting to confuse me!
And this one got me really thinking:
All of these memes are positive (except for, possibly the first one!) and I think they come from a place of kindness. I hope that they are created by people who are sick of seeing others tie themselves up in knots trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations. But they also come across to me as being very self centred.
I don’t know about you, but I need something bigger than myself to centre my life around. If I listen only to what I say about myself, I’m going to be very depressed, very quickly. If I depend on myself for all my strength then I will run dry, probably within a day or so. If I don’t care about anyone else, even from the best of motives, I am going to run out of friends and turn my family away. I am definitely NOT enough just by myself.
Studies on happiness (1) have shown that it helps to build your life around a higher purpose, something greater, something more than just you. Something to live for, to dream big for, to work on yourself for, to not-worry-about-what-others-think for, because you know that what you are doing and being is important, is bigger.
The good book says “Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”
I pray that as you head into the new year, you find something greater than just yourself (however awesome you may be) to build your life around.
(1) OK these are not great references, but I am on holidays! I’m sure if you start here, you can find amazing papers and books to back up what I’m saying. Please excuse my laziness 🙂
Stegar, M.F. (2009). Meaning in Life. In S.J. Lopez & C.R. Snyder (Eds.)Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology. NY:OxfordUniversity Press.
Man’s Search for Meaning. Viktor E Frankl