Thought for the Day

[hellison]

Well, the question asking idea (previous post) did turn out Interesting as expected, tho some of the directions it took were quite unexpected e.g. discussion of one's preferences for/against the... more hirsute Gentleman's Area.
But thank you all for trying (very trying, in some cases).

One question, however, threw me completely and also caused me to Think; littlebluefish asked "What do you really love about yourself?". And I couldn't answer.
Eventually I did think of something (my ability to be independent, which is incredibly important to me) but it took quite a while and I still haven't come up with anything else - which set me wondering why it was so difficult.
Ask me for a list of things I like and I could manage, things I don't like and you'd be here all day, but 'love'? I don't think I've ever been asked to think of myself in those terms before, and it seems it never occurred to me to do it for myself ;p

Then I wondered if it's just me? Or is it a wider thing - are we not encouraged to love ourselves enough (at the risk of sounding a bit selfhelp/twee there)? And if not, why not?

So! Today's question for the class; more of a youyou than a meme for once ;)

What do you really love about yourself?

Comments

[hellison.livejournal.com]

That was my initial reation too - and it took a long time to come up with anything about myself I actually felt strongly about - but if you can love things about other people why NOT yourself?
Why should it feel wrong to do so?

(not demanding answers here btw, more just wondering out loud!)

[lazy-hoor.livejournal.com]

I just don't think we're wired that way. I dunno, maybe some people are! I dunno that I 'love' certain things about people, I'd like an aspect, but love them as a whole, if that makes sense?

[hellison.livejournal.com]

It does make sense yes ;) I think it was the 'love' part that threw me mostly!

It just struck me that if I'd been asked about other people (eg the 'what do you envy about me' type memes) I could have come up with plenty of things right away, but couldn't come up with anything about myself.
I don't know if its to do with wiring, but we're certainly not... trained, (or maybe taught is better?) to see ourselves that way I think. If *that* makes any sense.

[lazy-hoor.livejournal.com]

We're probably not taught to love ourselves, no. We're not taught to love others though either, are we? It's something that comes naturally?

[hellison.livejournal.com]

True, but then we're not born with the feeling that saying what we love about ourselves is narcissitic either, that must come from somewhere.

Of course it could be I'm overthinking the whole thing (cos that wouldn't be a first!), it is reassuring to know it's not just me either ;)