dailydatewithgod

We tend to look at ourselves in a binary way.  All the good sides of ourselves versus the all the bad sides of ourselves.  The parts we like about us, the parts we dislike about us. Then we take it in comparison to others.  We see where we are efficient and others are deficient.  We see where we are successful and others fail and vice versa. Rarely, do we stop to take a look at the duality of each of those elements.  Within our good or bad sides are the flip sides. The opposing aspect of the good side of being a good listener can be seen from the flip side of not speaking up as quickly.  Being efficient in time keeping can make us deficient in flexibility.  We are not static beings.  Our good sides may hinder us in circumstances where we need the flip side to be present.  If we define ourselves solely by our efficient elements and try to hide our deficient side we are not embracing the whole of our being or the gift of the moment.  All the parts of ourselves are there for a reason.  We carry judgment about which is best to allow others to see and we judge others when their darker sides slip through.  At any given moment our deficiency may be the sign of something we need to address.  We will not know what we can learn about ourselves and others if we are too busy either ignoring or trying to hide them. Our hearts invite us to be in the moment we are in.  If we are demonstrating a deficiency (being cruel to others or ourselves, not managing our money well, being judgmental of others, or any other myriad of things we do often when we are out of reserves of the flip side) and see it as a defining element of ourselves instead of an experience in the moment we are in, we lose the gift it gives us.  I often notice the gifts of God from the heart are rarely packaged like some kind of Valentine’s Day surprise.  They are more like something wrapped in old newspapers or trash bags.  Our deficiencies provide indications of the current state of our heart.  We may not be aware of the presence of frustration in our lives until we see ourselves being impatient with ourselves, another person, or experience. Instead of labeling impatience as a deficiency of our being, we can use it as a call to get some additional support in dealing with our frustration.