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bokbadok


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To see ourselves as others see us!
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In the bartender thread, LMM posted a Robert Burns poem, the final stanza of which I have pasted here:

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An foolish notion:
What airs in dress an gait wad lea'es us,
An ev'n devotion!


Have you ever stopped and observed yourself, making a real effort to understand how others perceive you? I do occasionally, and it's rarely a pleasant experience. As uncomfortable as it is, I think it is a valuable skill to develop. Just like a ballerina needs to watch herself dance in the mirror in order to ensure her technique is correct, self introspection--the ability and willingness to consider ourselves in the harsh light of other's opinions--is both a measure of humility and a method of self improvement.

IMO, of course. wink.gif


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alabamabelle


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introspection and self examination are such wonderful concepts . . .when practiced by other people. giggle.gif

seriously, there are times that I wonder about what view I WOULD get if I were seeing myself through the eyes of others. I have to wonder - would I see myself as a success if I were looking at me through your eyes?

probably not.

Through your eyes, I would see with great clarity the failings and shortcomings in myself that I am all too willing to sweep under my personal comfort rug when I use my own eyes.

Self appraisal is only as good as the source material and the vision of the one who is offering the view. if you want to know how people truly see you as an individual Child of God, ask HIM to show you.

And hang on to the saddle horn for a bumpy ride, because no matter how nice and wonderful you adjudge yourself to be, the Father more than likey sees something quite different. Plus, He will also show you all of the WONDERFUL things that you do to bless the lives of others.

it's amazing and worth doing more than once in a blue moon. . .



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Dyany


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huh. I find that as I get older and try to see myself as others see me, I think BETTER of myself. I mean, I'm sure many people think ill of me, but rarely for things I don't already know about myself (though sometimes they put much more value on those things than I do, so they may think much more ill of me than I would agree with). Mostly I find that I am better at the things I do than I think I am, and I do more good than I think I do, and people like me better than I think they do. It's a nice thing.

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Cat Herder


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Interesting that a couple folks have brought this poem up today...

I actually posted the whole text of the poem in the Apology thread nearly a year ago (which thread was started in response to the first butting of heads between folks in Bountiful within days of the forum being started).

Belle has got a point... if one is really going to be humble enough to look at one's self honestly, one needs to take it to The Lord and not just to those around them.  He is, if you'll indulge the comparison, the control in the survey and has no vested interest in skewing the results or in exaggerating things. 



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rayb


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I'd prefer to see others how God sees others, rather than how I see myself. Honestly it's a whole lot more flattering. :)

--Ray


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bokbadok


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I agree that the Lord's opinion is the only opinion that matters. I do think, however, that feedback from trusted individuals can be helpful as well, assuming they are willing to tell the truth and we are willing to listen .

This thread wasn't really a call for advice from y'all.  I just wondered if other people practice introspection to any degree, and if so, what you've learned.

-- Edited by bokbadok at 17:10, 2007-12-12

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rayb


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Why, Bok, I'm the most introspective person on this message board... biggrin.gif

--Ray



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Jen


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I'm pretty sure people find me clumsy, socially awkward, and annoying.

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Roper


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In high school, I participated actively in speech and debate.

As a comm major in college, I did a lot of public speaking.

I submitted a comprehensive portfolio after student teaching.

I'm currently working on national board certification.

What do all these activities have in common?  Watching hours and hours of myself on video.  My reactions is always the same:  I'm sure glad people don't point out all of the things that are so obviously wrong with me!



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Euphrasie


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I'm with you, Jen.

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coolcucumbers


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Jen and Euphrasie...me too.


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dianoia


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I'm with Dy on this one: I find that other people are far gentler on me than I am on myself. But then I'm a ponderer by nature, prone to self-reflection.

In fact, as far as my family (the one I grew up in) is concerned, I "think too much."

I've actually come to appreciate this aspect of my personality. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, because one of the adversary's tools is to magnify my faults so that they're all I see, but the flip side is I've got a pretty good idea of what my failings are.




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Ros


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Is this a good time to mention that the only full length mirror i have is a 'skinny' one. You know, the ones that take off 10 lbs. Where do I get "skinny" perspective for everything else, I wonder?

I think people see me as a hard shell, difficult to crack, non-emotional, sometimes uncaring, possibly selfish with some strange un-funny wit that just doesn't make sense.

weirdface

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Mahonri


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Sad, but I don't do this. I need to.

So how do you all see me? Mitt Romney or Gordon B. Hinckley... I could change avatars again...smile.gif

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Poncho29


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I was kind of partial to the Gordon B. Hinckley avatar. smile.gif

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Mahonri


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I tried to change it, but Activeboard won't let me.

I suppose I'll leave up Mitt until he wins the nomination or drops out.... or I get a better pic of him.

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no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done
Cute Dancer


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I think people see me as a good kindly friendly helpfull person.biggrin



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So cute
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