It's almost by default that other people always seem better than us. Our inner critic never gives us a breathing space or a minute to appreciate our abilities. One of the hardest things is to acknowledge that we are better, that we can be better, and that we would be better.
Part of negative criticism stems from our knowledge of our flaws and imperfections. It's commonly said that you only know the smell of a man when you are near him. And with that, we know all the dark odors within us; we know and experience our ghosts in the hidden attics and closets. We know our weaknesses better than anyone else, and we can't stop seeing ourselves in that murky world.
The advantage of knowing little about other people is that we don't know what their closets hold. And sometimes, they are the worst that we could comprehend. But we don't see them in that light; we only see ourselves. And we are doomed.
Imagine that they think we are better than them, that we have it all figured out, and that we know what we are doing with our existence. They are despising themselves the same way we despise ourselves. We don't see that.
The goal is not to compare what our closets hold with other people's closets. The goal is to understand that we are criticizing ourselves unnecessarily. We are busy killing ourselves instead of giving ourselves a chance.
You are full of sh*t, yes. Everyone else is. Your shit doesn't have to pull you down. You are full of goodness. Yes, you are. And you should open your eyes and see it. Someone can just tell you that, but they can't make you believe it. And it is essential that you believe it. Mostly, it is what will keep you floating in this troubled life.
When you look at yourself, find a new way to marvel at who you are. Let the skeletons remain in the closet. Learn to live without inviting them into every perspective you have of yourself. Maybe life would be a little easier and more bearable.
Kabwere Musa
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