There are less than half a dozen books I'm committed to reading, again and again, year after year.
THIS book has been included in that celebrated roster. I implore you to read it.
Over the next two weeks you're going to benefit from some of the flashes of brilliance that stood out and warrant sharing with you.
Enjoy!
Page 59
"To sacrifice ourselves to God (to the highest good, if you like) does not mean to suffer silently and willingly when some person or organization demands more from us, consistently, than is offered in return. That means we are supporting tyranny, and allowing ourselves to be treated like slaves. It is not virtuous to be victimized by a bully, even if that bully is oneself."
If you, in a relationship of any kind, are not actively advocating the best for yourself, while at the same time time advocating the BEST for your lover, your friend, or family member (in this equation), you have the opportunity to improve.
Because you are inadvertently supporting tyranny by not actively advocating for both parties.
I have found that more often than not, we operate as tyrants against ourselves (often rationalizing these actions as how tolerant and good people behave).
Again,
"It is not virtuous to be victimized by a bully, even if that bully is oneself."
YOU are your only YOU.
With all the archetypes of heroes and anti-heroes that modern (and perhaps even ancient) cultures gift upon us, perhaps the message that requires more focus and concentration is thus:
If you seek Superman, King Leonidas, Jason of the Argonauts, Wonder Woman, She-Ra, He-Man, Harry Potter, Tony Stark or Luke Skywalker, there is only one place in the world you need to look to find what you seek.
The hero you're looking for is there, but where they are on their hero's journey is up to you to determine: Are you witnessing Luke Skywalker stranded on Degobah, lost, alone, with no hope of ever getting home?
Or are you looking at Luke Skywalker right before (or after) he blew up the Death Star and saved the Universe?
If you are seeking your hero, you are right to look outside of yourself; by doing so, you achieve the perspective necessary to FIND your hero.
And determine where they are in their journey, and what they absolutely must do in order to advance.
To find your hero, you need only look in one place...
In the mirror.
