Selfish somewhat a negative word, but it's true the truth hurts! I'm (Sal) not the best person to write about this issue, but I just want to bring it out! Yes, we can all be self-centered at times or even more! I don't think many of us do this purposely, but unknowingly until someone points it out.
What causes us to be selfish?
Again, I'm not an expert on this topic and the many other issues I've wrote on so far on these weblinks. I just like to share my personal experiences on each them overtime in this season of my life so far. My personal answer has to deal with sin that separates us and our Creator. For example, I struggle with anger, which I get angry easily over little things. As I reflect on my past mistakes dealing with anger, I usually get angry whenever I lose focus of others and draw the attention to my self. One time ok.. many times when I used to come home from work at Taco Bell during and after High School; I easily got mad after a stressful day on the job and would vent off on my family or whoever is at home when I arrive from work. Unfortunately, I kind of do so still after college whenever I come from working at the group home; I'm getting better though as long as I persevere in my personal walk with Christ! The reason I get angry is probably because when I come from work, I've been focussing on me (emotional or physical drain). I come home and everybody is either laughing and relaxing, which I get jealous of this due to comparing my experience (bad) with others (good).
Mark 10 35 45 Mpeg 4 for YouTube
Mark 10:35-45, from youtube.com
-Teachings
Greatness is in Serving I, from youtube.com
Self Esteem, Purpose, and Meaning (Paul Washer)
"Paul preached to about 700 youth at a VCY America Rally on 2/09/08. For more about VCY America, go to:
\r\nwww.vcyamerica.org"
Solution?
What I've been working on lately is to get a whole different perspective or outlook of my circumstances or situation . There is this verse that came to me as I'm writing this from the Bible.
Let me have your eyes Lord?
If we want to know God, I believe He wants us to know His heart and see how He looks at everything. When we do this, we can take our eyes from ourselves and look at everything from his vantage view. Have you ever seen the movie Bruce Almighty starring Jim Carrey? Well Jim plays this character that gets a chance to have the same powers as God, so he can see what it's like from His vantage view as a lesson to be learn. This lesson to be learned experience was given to Jim because he was complaining to God before how he never gets his way-prayers answered. Well, Jim does get his prayers answered, but due to his selfish prayers that please only him. His answered prayers causes disruption for others and the rest of the world. (One scene: Jim pulls the moon closer in order to have that moonlight romantic atmosphere with his girlfiend played by Jennifer Aniston). This serves as a good example if we get everything we want (prayers, materialistic things, people, or anything that we envy), then there might be some consequences that affects others.
What we need to do is take a second look and ask God what to do in each circumstance or situation before selfishly acting upon it. For example, next time I come home from a stressful day on the job, I need to see what would Jesus do. Would Jesus get mad after a hard day at work when he was a carpenter? From what I've read so far from the Bible, he would be joyful and contented of the work he's doing.
Get a bigger perspective in life
I had the opportunity to visit my parents homeland of the Philippines. When I was there I witnessed hardworking young men in the hot tropical sun working sun-up to sun-down. They were drying the wet corn in one side of the dirt road for miles and leave it throughout the whole day until the sun starts to set when they started to shovel it into bags. I never knew what they did all this for, but they really busted their butts! I worked at Taco Bell for 4+ years and the group home about close to more than the same span of time as of today-Thursday, February 12, 2004. Yes, I do have days where I think about (like today) looking for another job (just worked a 10p-6a shift awake and had to continue working since I couldn't be relieved this morning due to the weather. A co-worker wasn't able to shovel his way out in the farm since the snow drifts blocked him last night). As I'm writing this, I really have second thoughts about looking at another job because I should be thankful about earning a more than a decent wage compared to those young hard-working men in the Philippines.
We at times need to take a break from our daily life routine and take a vacation. That is why Jesus and Moses before Him from the perspective of the Bible time-line, continued to stress the need of rest or acknowledging the Sabbath. We can easily get burned out or narrow minded of what we are doing if we don't take a break. Not just a job, but anything we do: (church/ministry-visit another church to see what God is doing there and then go back to your local church to see what God can use you differently then before or to be more thankful; The number one advice when we do this is to not lose focus on our shepherd-Jesus, which I try to do with my continued personal walking tips (reading the Word, fellowshipping with other believers, or in prayer)
Other words that come with self-
-ambition: personal desires
-pity: feeling sorry for one self
Distorted perception of beauty
*see campaign for real beauty.ca
"Real beauty is from the inside! No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted! Mayby we should look to each other like God does... look to the heart instead to the outside appearence... Many women (and men) look to members of the opposide sex with this 'world-view'. Be renewed and stop looking like that! Don't value yourself at how many guys are gazing at you!! Stop wanted being loved by the world, and start wanted being loved by God! "
In the news lately (11.25.03), the media has been focussing on Michael Jackson's current child molestation accusations. Also, they've been showing pictures of MJ from the past to present as his image has changed dramatically. I don't know what's behind his image change (skin disorder, low self-esteem, entertainment industry, etc...). But, he's in an example of the many people out there that have a low self-esteem on their self-image.
I used to suffer a low self-esteem on my self-image (e.g. racism experience) I believed what people said to me (e.g. big nose, big eyes, skinnny, chubby, chicken legs, etc...). I was displeased about my looks-especially growing-up during my adolescent years. There were a lot of peer pressure from classmates on trying to look "cool"-just to feel belong!
It was in college when I started to have a higher self-esteem on my self-image. It was more than I was just growing-up, but I attribute it to my founding relationship with the one who created me-Heavenly Father!
Body Image Statistics in this Eye Opening Video
"I Corinthians 6:19-20 talk about honoring God with our bodies. Check out this video on self esteem with body image statistics. So many young girls and women struggle in this area. I designed this video for my website www.findyourtruebeauty.com and talk that I give to teen girls. Both are designed to help girls find their true beauty!"
Amy - True Self Esteem - Must Watch!, from Godtube.com
"Amy - True Self Esteem - Must Watch! Send this on to someone you really love and think is beautiful. I know this doesn't have anything to do with animals but I loved this soooooooo much!!!!"
Anorexia, Bulimia, and other Eating Disorders
1 out of 10 females in college suffer from this problem, which I learned when I was trained to be a Residential Advisor at UMM in 1997-1998. I decided to re"search" more on this after chatting with a co-worker of mine on this serious "sad" issue.
-Bulimia
BarlowGirl speak out about Eating Disorders
"Rebecca from BarlowGirl once struggled with eating disorders. Isaiah 62 helped her through that time and showed her that she was 'beloved'."
-Eating Disorders
What I've been doing?
Today (February 2007), I feel better about myself-particularly knowing Who my Creator is and that He created me beautiful in His image. I do my best to live a healthy-balanced life to grow physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Now that I feel good about myself, which is something I'll keep growing; I want to help others feel the same way. It's like that song from my favorite 80's music artist...
michael jackson "Man in the Mirror"
-from "Man in the Mirror" (azlyrics) by Michael Jackson
"I'm Gonna Make A Change, For Once In My Life It's Gonna Feel Real Good, Gonna Make A Difference Gonna Make It Right . . .
As I, Turn Up The Collar On My Favourite Winter Coat This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind I See The Kids In The Street, With Not Enough To Eat Who Am I, To Be Blind? Pretending Not To See Their Needs A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top And A One Man's Soul They Follow Each Other On The Wind Ya' Know 'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go That's Why I Want You To Know
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change (Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change) (Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah)
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love It's Time That I Realize That There Are Some With No Home, Not A Nickel To Loan Could It Be Really Me, Pretending That They're Not Alone?
A Willow Deeply Scarred, Somebody's Broken Heart And A Washed-Out Dream (Washed-Out Dream) They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See Cause They Got No Place To Be That's Why I'm Starting With Me (Starting With Me!)
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror (Ooh!) I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Ooh!) And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror (Ooh!) I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Change His Ways-Ooh!) And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . . (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .) Change!
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror, (Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!) I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Better Change!) No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change) (You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time) ('Cause When You Close Your Heart) You Can't Close Your . . .Your Mind! (Then You Close Your . . . Mind!) That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man With That Man In The Mirror (Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!) That Man, That Man, That Man I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Better Change!) You Know . . .That Man No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change) Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Oh Yeah!) Gonna Feel Real Good Now! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Ooooh . . .) Oh No, No No . . . I'm Gonna Make A Change It's Gonna Feel Real Good! Come On! (Change . . .) Just Lift Yourself You Know You've Got To Stop It. Yourself! (Yeah!-Make That Change!) I've Got To Make That Change, Today! Hoo! (Man In The Mirror) You Got To You Got To Not Let Yourself . . . Brother . . . Hoo! (Yeah!-Make That Change!) You Know-I've Got To Get That Man, That Man . . . (Man In The Mirror) You've Got To You've Got To Move! Come On! Come On! You Got To . . . Stand Up! Stand Up! Stand Up! (Yeah-Make That Change) Stand Up And Lift Yourself, Now! (Man In The Mirror) Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! (Yeah-Make That Change) Gonna Make That Change . . . Come On! (Man In The Mirror) You Know It! You Know It! You Know It! You Know . . . (Change . . .) Make That Change.
Self-Conscious about yourself?
I was listening to the radio (Friday, January 23rd 09') and heard this great message....
Breaking Through Life's Biggest Barriers
-How to Overcome Inferiority and Low Self-Image
Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror to see how you look? When you look at a group picture that you are in, do you first look at yourself? Just remember, you are unique and God made you "different" from the 6+ billion people in the world. Don't ever let anyone tell you are not what God says about you...
Related Sites:
Identity in Christ
God Made You Special Live! (Trailer)
"FINALLY! VEGGIETALES IS ON STAGE!!!!! Coming to a church or theater near you! GOD MADE YOU SPECIAL AND HE LOVES YOU VERY MUCH! "
I had the opportunity to see this live concert with my niece, older sister, and mom this past weekend (Saturday, October 18th of 2008). Yes, God made each of us unique and special. We sometimes feel like an outside because we don't "fit" with the group. However, we need to constantly remind ourselves we were created unique and different.
'God Made You Special' Trailer 207352, from youtube.com
Comedy
Enjoy who God made you to be
"Just be who you are... Enjoy who God made you to be."
Movies
Music
-Videos
"I Love My Lips
*love what God has given you
Teachings
The solution to low self esteem
"Sermon clip from New Life Community Church
http://www.newlifecommunitychurchct.org/
The solution to low self esteem
How does God see you?"
Health
Nick Vujicic: Life without Limbs
"http://BornAgainToday.com"
Television