Spiritual principle question.......?

Question

Do you find it hard to "get out of yourself" and think about how you act and what you say will affect others??

I find it hard, but when I get some momentum with this, I can do it often. I feel self centeredness is a heartbeat in North American society.

Any thoughts?? How do you deal with practicing this??

Thanks for everyones answers!

Answer 1

I have found that by walking my talk I am able to be very conscious of how my behaviors and word effect others.
I believe we are all connected in this web we call life. Therefore when speaking I ask myself.
Is this helpful?
Is this necessary?
Is it kind?
Daily prayer/meditation are of great assistance in this endeavor.

Answer 2

No, it's not hard. I do it often. I most certainly think about how I act and what I say and how these things affect others. It just seems to be something that comes naturally for me so I don't practice at it. In here, my backspace key has been worn to a nub. In real life, I am careful about HOW I say things and HOW I act, especially if I feel that it may have an adverse affect.

Answer 3

America has become a very materialistic society, self-centered and greedy. It's not something I'm proud of.

I have always believed that it is critically important to treat others with dignity and respect and kindness. Jesus said, Love one another. I try to put a smile on someone's face with a joke or compliment, anything. I try to be courteous and patient, help where I can. If I do that, I'm one less person being ugly in the world, and maybe, just maybe that one little act of kindness might have done something huge in someone's life. I'll never know, not until I reach the afterlife. But knowing about it doesn't matter. What's important is just doing it and expecting nothing in return.

America needs to re-embrace faith, re-embrace God. It's the only way to get things back the way they're supposed to be.

Answer 4

When I think about it, I actually feel deeply entrenched in self-centeredness. (is that a word?) However, on "automatic mode", I take care of those around me, albeit, with many failures. We can only be ourselves and no one else.

On the other hand, there is a thread of human commonality that runs through society that enables us to have compassion for one another.

It is easier to go down to a lower level to find common ground than it is to go up a level.

Answer 5

We want to be good but evil is always present. That is what Paul said. We must die to self. Self is evil. We are spirit. When you are born again in the spirit your flesh begins to die. Good question. After repenting we must be filled with the Holy Ghost. We can do this before being baptized,after or when we come up out of the water. Yes we need to be baptized. Jesus did it and He never sinned but He was setting the example for us. When we are baptized it represents first of all our obedience to God,second it represents us being buried and resurrected with Christ. If you change on your own it will be short lived. It can not be done in the natural because we are spirit. When it is done in the spirit,you will be successful. You must Love God more than anything else. You must put Him first. Life in Him is opposite of life out of Him. Live in Him and let Him live in you and thru you. Endure to the end to be saved. If He lives in you, then you are able to obey Him and love others.

Answer 6

I'm thoughtful most of the time and consider the consequences of the things I say and do. I always prioritize people above things this helps a lot. Unfortunately North American society has gone from "what's in it for me" to "it's all about me".

Answer 7

I think that is assuming when a person is trying to understand what is happening in reality or perceive reality, he or she has to include the possibility that reality is a shared experience, so no one person can know reality absolutely. Nor can a individual person know what is reality without other people to compare, contrast and measure other perspectives.
It seems to me that the bedrock of this reality of our life is a shared experience. Yes, we can create great works of art that catch the eye, ears, nose and so on, in awe.
How do I practice this, I suffer the truth, my mistakes and contributions and marvel in the painful beauty of life.

Answer 8

I agree it is the heartbeat in North American society. Mainly U.S.A., don't get me wrong I love my country. But I think we are to busy chasing the almighty dollar to care about anybody but ourselves. Jobs get shipped to Central America, and Places like Japan because businesses don't care if the layoff people as long as they can save money and still jack up the prices. Then ship the products back over here and don't care if the common man can afford to buy the high price low quality products they sell, as long as someone does. I can rant on forever about this, but there is really no use.

Answer 9

For me I think reading about Buddhism which is really focused on just this sort of thing was very helpful. They have a principle called right speech which involves thinking about the person you are interacting with before you say something. The idea is to try to speak not only truth but what is helpful and what they are ready to hear. I wish I were better at that but I hope to improve. =)Meditation helps me too to find more compassion and awareness of connection to others.

Answer 10

My dad told me this (i think he got it from a book) and it's really helped me be a better Christian.
God is first.
Friends/family are second.
I am third.
Jesus loved the people more than himself ("Love your neighbor as yourself") and when I start to act selfish and self-centered, I remind myself of the greatest sacrifice of all: Jesus' death. And when I think of the enormous pain he must've gone through, I feel inspired to be loving, helpful, and all smiley.
I also constantly have to remind myself that my friends (whom I trust and love) are NOT always right about some things, and that I should ALWAYS turn to God about EVERYTHING. This really helps with conformity issues.
All in all, just pray and constantly read your Bible. God's Word is never wrong. :-)