Re: Nostradamus gets it wrong again!

"Jim Phillips" <jphillip@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.96.1031223111446.26299G-100000@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003, Not Im****tant wrote:
>
> > "Terry Hatchett" <thatchett@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> > news:bs82k7$pgu$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Not Im****tant wrote:
> > > > In fact I am, but the point is that other people do not affect my
> > self-worth
> > > > positively OR negatively. I wish this for everyone.
> > >
> > >
> > > I don't. Like I said elsewhere, it means you can't filter and
process
> > > information properly. People laughing at you is a clue that
somethig's
> > > wrong. You're standing in dog**** and people are laughing and you
don't
> > > have the sense too wipe your feet, metaphysically speaking.
> >
> > I did not say that I ignore it when people laugh at what I say. In
fact,
in
> > another thread I said that when I know that I am right
>
> But *how* do you know that you are right when you have a cold and so
> can't smell the **** you're standing in?
>
> > then I pity them
> > because I know that either they are ignorant and not willing to accept
the
> > truth or are mentally ill, and if I have any doubt that I could be
wrong
I
> > take it as a challenge to find out how I may be wrong.
>
> Other people often help me figure out if I'm wrong about something.
> How do you get clues about whether you're wrong?
>
> > Your self-worth
> > should not be based on what others say or do, it should be based on
your
> > infinite potential.
>
> How sociopathic.  It doesn't watter what anyone else says or does,
> it only matters what I want.  Scary!

Other people can't tell me who or what I am (unless perhaps they are
magical.)  However, as a practical matter, our feelings are affected by
the
responses of others (sometimes too much so.)  We need to insulate
ourselves
against the put downs of others.  Others can criticize our acts, and we
can
evaluate those criticisms for their reality.  However, criticizing our
acts
does not make us less as a person.

On the other hand, if the moral sup****t of others gives us a boost, we'd
might as well accept it, whether or not the positive affect of others can
make us anything other than what we really are.  It can not only
contribute
to our happiness, but also to our optimism and hope, and motivate us to
try
harder to succeed.

As young children, we have no choice in the matter.  But as adults, we
know
better, and can sift and sort among the remarks and actions of others, and
determine for ourselves what they mean to us.

>
> --
> Jim Phillips, jphillip at bcpl dot net
> "If you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at
all."
>         -- God
>